terutalk
 

Teru TalkDownload PDF.

TERU Focus Report - Recovery: Molecules, Energy, or Both?

European Debate over Plastics Recycling Provides a Global Context
Date --

Introduction

When we attempt to define highest and best use of materials recovered from waste, some would contend that incineration for generation of heat and power provides the most bang for the ton of trash. Others feel that such complete thermal conversion is the anathema, and that it is with molecular recovery that we should be most concerned. The international market for recovered plastics has recently been under close scrutiny with greatly reduced and tightened acceptance into China paralleling dropping prices and an overabundance of waste plastic.

Professor Dr. Helmut Maurer serves as an advisor in the European Commission (EC) "waste management" unit, and spoke at last week's Identiplast 2015 conference in Rome, Italy. Dr. Maurer proffered that when seeking markets for recovered plastic, energy recovery should be the last resort in concert with his work in development of a European plastic waste strategy for the EC, and in context of the broader coherence of European waste legislation. Not restricted to Europe, that same argument surfaces regularly in North America, as a lively and contentious debate over available options for waste management.

Dr. Maurer's pronouncements caught the attention of Kristian Dales, Sales and Marketing Director of FCC Environment, one of the UK's leading waste and resource management companies. Part of FCC's mantra is that disposal to a landfill is actually the last resort in waste management, far less preferred that any form of recovery despite the fact that FCC has control over 44 operational landfill sites. Mr. Dales published a considered, concise response to Dr. Maurer that argues for an integrated approach utilizing both waste-sourced plastics conversion to goods, and plastics conversion to energy. We feel that Mr. Dales' premise holds for any sector of waste management. His response argument is presented verbatim, below.

Energy vs. Molecular-level Recovery

Kristian Dales, Sales and Marketing Director, FCC Environment:

"It's all very well and good arguing for plastics recycling over energy recovery but is there a commercially viable market for recycled plastics? Where is the certainty given the downturn in the global commodities market and the recent spiralling of oil prices, the impacts of which are already impacting on demand for recovered plastic polymers? Quality will continue to be a crucial price differentiator, but this is heavily reliant on influencing consumer behaviour to address issues of contamination. There is no sign yet of the scale of funding we saw back in the early 2000s to orchestrate new public education campaigns to tackle this.

“There is also a shortfall of reprocessing capacity in the UK to deal with greater volumes of recovered materials. In addition, national recycling rates appear to have plateaued – with no firm policy framework in place to help stimulate the secondary commodities market, developing a robust business case to invest in new materials recovery facilities remains challenging. Given the current state of play, are we entering an era of diminishing returns with regards to recycling?

"The thermal treatment of residual plastics through Energy from Waste (EfW) can act as a complementary technology choice. We currently have a buoyant UK export market for refuse derived fuels (RDF), driven by demand for feedstock from overseas EfW facilities, low shipping costs and the strength of sterling. RDF exports offer the industry a cost-effective treatment/disposal route for residual waste while helping to deliver against zero waste to landfill aspirations.

"But in exporting our RDF, we are also exporting huge value out of the UK as well as the fact that exporting RDF while importing energy in other forms also undermines domestic energy security. RDF has the potential to offer so much more if a domestic market can be built for it, both in terms of meeting the UK's future energy requirements and offering businesses a closed loop solution to help power their logistics and production processes.

"Despite the current lack of spare capacity in domestic EfW facilities to take advantage of the amount of RDF being produced, there are enough EfW facilities either under construction or in the planning process across the UK to match future RDF capacity to demand. But it remains unclear as to how many of these plants will eventually become operational.

"It is difficult to gauge investor confidence with regard to large-scale EfW projects, especially in the wake of the Government's decision to withdraw funding for a series of major PFI municipal waste contracts. This, coupled with the seemingly confusing mix of incentives and credits under the Feed-in Tariff, Renewables Obligation Certificates and Contracts for Difference regimes, has resulted in an inconsistent policy approach that is only creating more uncertainty for the sector. That said, EfW remains a proven and bankable technology. Recently we have seen a handful of new merchant facilities come on-stream in the UK and over the next five years we will inevitably see more, especially as EU 2020 landfill and renewable energy targets draw closer."

Parting Shots

There is an old saw regarding "environmentalists" - we tend to eat our own.

In our opinion, Mr. Dales presents a realist's perspective. If there is insufficient combined money, infrastructure, political will, or public sentiment to drive markets toward the best conceivable approach, we still must contend on a daily basis with the veritable Tsunami of Trash that globally, we all generate. As with Fuel considerations: our ever-growing and insatiable actions demand a far more direct response than our best intentions would dictate.

Until we find ourselves magically transmogrified into a perfect world, we will continue to need every trick at our "disposal".

Back to top

 

© Teru Talk by JDMT, Inc 2015. All rights reserved. You are free to reprint and use this report as long as no changes are made to its content or references and credit is given to the author, Michael Theroux. http://www.terutalk.com

 

  
 
 

Teru Talk

This site is intended to Incite Dialogue about all matters related to Waste Conversion for Resource Recovery.
Please join me.
 
Michael Theroux 
 

Teru Talk

 
 

 What People are Saying about Teru Talk:

 

"Teru Talk has become invaluable to me in keeping up with waste conversion issues. You are absolutely current and that is so important to explain and to understand this industry."
David Roberti - President
BioEnergy Producers Association

"I enjoy your e-newsletters – I read them religiously! Thank you for doing such a good job of helping spread the word about anaerobic digesters."
Melissa VanOrnum
- Marketing Manager
DVO, Inc

"I have been having a look at your web page and I believe you are carrying out an incredible task in the field."
Dr. Frédéric Ratel -Responsable de Propietat Industrial
Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ)

"I've been impressed with the growth of Teru Talk as a resource for information regarding conversion technologies. It's a needed resource given the current pace of conversion technology development and interest."
Coby Skye - Civil Engineer
Los Angeles County DPW

"Thanks for all the good things you're doing at Teru Talk! Your blog presents a spot-on analysis, and is helping to shed a bright light on the folks who have crossed the line one too many times."
Dr. Kay Martin - Vice President
Bioenergy Producers Association

"I just wanted to take a minute to say how very much I appreciate the tenacity with which you keep us all updated and watching along the horizon with you."
Tim o'Shea - CEO
CleanFish, Inc

"I've looked through your site, Terutalk - What a great resource. Your action items and due dates are particularly helpful."
Su Anne Huang - Market Manager, Landfills
FlexEnergy, Inc

"Thanks for putting it in writing…. excellent blog and website my friend. Thanks for doing what you are doing."
Chuck Collins - CEO
Cascade Power Group LLC

"Teru Talk is really terrific. I read it assiduously, learning something every time."
Paul Relis - Senior VP
CR&R Waste & Recycling Services

more.....

 

 

 
 
  Search Teru Talk:
Tip: Use your browser's "Find" or "Find on Page" to drill down.
 
 
Teru Talk
 

Founding Sponsor:

 

JDMT, Inc

  
 
Teru Talk
 

Recommended Reading:

 

CHAGALL: The Recycling Dragon
CHAGALL: The Recycling Dragon by Marty Strauss

 

 Teru's Bookshelf

 

Out of the Wasteland: Stories from the Environmental Frontier by Paul Relis
Out of the Wasteland: Stories from the Environmental Frontier by Paul Relis

 
 Teru Talk
Sponsored Links:
 

300% green