Sustainable End-of-Life Options for Plastics in New Zealand

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4. Alternative End-of-Life Options 25 4.1 Introduction Recycling is the main end-of-life option for plastics in NZ other than land-filling; however there are a number of alternative reprocessing methods that may be better suited for material types or products. Alternative end-of-life options will depend on a variety of factors, including: the level of contamination involved, size of the product, transportation costs and the ability to recycle as a first priority. The main alternative plastic end-of-life options are: • composting of degradable plastics • energy recovery, and • storage. 4.2 Composting Degradable Plastics 4.2.1 Types of Degradable Plastics The word ‘degradable’ is defined as being: ‘a term given to natural and manmade substances that can be broken down by natural processes into smaller parts. 26 ’ The five main types of degradable plastic are: 1. Biodegradable capable of being decomposed by biological agents such as bacteria 2. Hydro-biodegradable can be decomposed by biological agents such as bacteria, when in contact with water 3. Photo-degradable decompose by polymer chain links between molecules breaking down when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation 4. Bioerodable erode by abrasion from environmental conditions such as: rain, particles in the wind, UV attack and climate temperature changes 5. Compostable become a mixture of decaying organic matter that can be used to improve soil structure and provide nutrients. 4.2.2 Sources of Raw Materials for Degradable Plastics Raw materials to make degradable plastics can be: derived from natural renewable resources such as starch, or synthesized from non-renewable petrochemicals. 4.2.3 Pros • Degradable plastics are innovative materials with good marketing potential. • They can be derived from renewable resources. • Some degradable plastics can be fed into composting end-of-life systems, having closed-loop lifecycles (i.e. for growing new raw materials). 25. Alternative to land-filling 26. Source: www.natureshift.org/Whawk/glossary.html 29 Sustainable End-of-Life Options for Plastics in New Zealand
4.2.4 Cons • The cost of deriving raw materials/processing and handling. • Most degradable plastics are organic, so to decompose, biodegradable and compostable plastics require the right environment. Lack of oxygen, nitrogen and in some cases sunlight, may cause serious odour and insect problems, and/or leach harmful chemicals. These types of repercussion suggest degradable materials are unsuitable for landfill disposal. • There is high risk of contamination of recyclable non-degradable plastics if product-handling is not controlled properly. • Currently there is no requirement for degradable plastic products in New Zealand to be labelled under a standard system (international standards exist: for example, the European Norm, EN 13432:2000, defines four characteristics a material must display in order to be described as ‘compostable’); or regulation for specifying the degree of degradability. Standards that are used are mainly ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) standards for manufacturing degradable plastics. • The collection and sorting infrastructure is not in place throughout New Zealand. 4.2.5 Measure of Degradability The most important factor concerning degradable plastic materials is the level of degradability they can reach over a specified time period. All plastics have the ability to degrade when put in the right environment. The variables that cause degradation include temperature, humidity, pressure and chemicals. Some plastics partially degrade, e.g. bio/hydro/photo-degradable materials, and break down into small fragments of plastic. Others, such as 100% compostable plastics, completely decompose. • Key questions to ask about the safety of plastics degradation are: • Where will the product be used/reside •Will there be any potential effects on the environment •Will hazardous chemicals be formed once the polymer chains in the molecular structure of the material break 4.2.6 Developments in NZ Although still a small proportion of the market, there are currently a number of developments in the plastics industry involving the use of degradable materials. Large plastic-production companies such as Vertex-Pacific, Elldex and Huhtamaki are investigating innovative materials and are manufacturing degradable products. An example of an event that helped introduce compostable plastics products to the NZ public, was when Vertex manufactured water cups from PLA to be used for the Auckland Round the Bays annual ‘fun run’ event in March 2005. They then worked with the Waitakere City Organic centre and Perry Environmental to compost the material. For more information, visit: http://www.plastics.org.nz/_attachments/round-the-bays-2005.doc. Alternative End-of- Life Options 30
Page 1 and 2: Research Project Report Sustainable
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary The purpose of th
Page 5 and 6: Acknowledgements Special thanks are
Page 7 and 8: 4.2.5 Measure of Degradability ....
Page 9 and 10: Introduction In 2003 the New Zealan
Page 11 and 12: Results 1. Plastic Material in NZ 1
Page 13 and 14: From the 2005 PNZ Mass Balance Surv
Page 15 and 16: 2. Statistical Analysis of Plastic
Page 17 and 18: 2.3 Breakdown of Recovered Plastic
Page 19 and 20: 2.5 Breakdown of Colours and Produc
Page 21 and 22: 2.5.4 PVC Approximately 2,412t of P
Page 23 and 24: 3. Assessment of the Current NZ Inf
Page 25 and 26: Figure 16: Implementation of kerbsi
Page 27 and 28: Figure 18: Other material recovered
Page 29: 3.3.3 Forms of End-Market Material
Page 33 and 34: 4.2.8 Viability of Composting Plast
Page 35 and 36: Strict regulations have been set in
Page 37 and 38: 5. Factors Influencing Recovery 5.1
Page 39 and 40: Commercial recyclers operating unde
Page 41 and 42: 5.9 Key Points Voluntary industry a
Page 43 and 44: Recommendations R.1 Improve Informa
Page 45 and 46: Appendices Appendix 1: Supplementar
Page 47 and 48: Appendix 2.8 Forms of Plastic End-M

Sustainable End-of-Life Options for Plastics in New Zealand

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