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Characteristics and Material Flows of Non-Packaging Plastics in Municipal Solid Waste: A Case Study from Vienna

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  • Gisela Breslmayer

    (Christian Doppler Laboratory for a Recycling-Based Circular Economy, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria)

  • Lea Gritsch

    (Christian Doppler Laboratory for a Recycling-Based Circular Economy, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria)

  • Jakob Lederer

    (Christian Doppler Laboratory for a Recycling-Based Circular Economy, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

In contrast to packaging, non-packaging plastics remain largely untargeted by EU regulations, despite their comprising over 60% of primary plastics in the EU 27 + 3 in 2022. This results in lower separate collection and recycling rates as well as fewer studies analysing recycling-relevant characteristics in non-packaging plastic waste (NPW), which are relevant to ensure the circularity and sustainable management of all plastics. This study presents a detailed characterisation of NPW found in mixed municipal solid waste and lightweight packaging waste on polymer and product levels, using the case study of Vienna, Austria. Results show that 4100 t/yr of polymers targeted for recycling, especially polypropylene, are currently discarded and lost in mixed MSW. A large share of NPW, however, exhibits recycling-hindering traits like multi-polymer objects or black colouring. While products made of high-quality food contact material were assessed to be ideal for separate collection to ensure closed-loop recycling, consideration should be given to collecting the majority of NPW via recycling centres to prevent contamination of target polymers with currently non-targeted other polymers. Design for recycling guidelines should also be introduced for non-packaging plastics, targeting separability, colouring and small-scale products. By doing so, a more sustainable management of NPW can be achieved.

Suggested Citation

  • Gisela Breslmayer & Lea Gritsch & Jakob Lederer, 2025. "Characteristics and Material Flows of Non-Packaging Plastics in Municipal Solid Waste: A Case Study from Vienna," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-24, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:9105-:d:1771111
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Babak Nemat & Mohammad Razzaghi & Kim Bolton & Kamran Rousta, 2020. "The Potential of Food Packaging Attributes to Influence Consumers’ Decisions to Sort Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, March.
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