This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at El reciclado de plásticos en España ha crecido un 251%
Reached and surpassed the legal target for the year 2001
Recycling of plastics in Spain grew 251 %
15/10/2002
One of the main conclusions of the 2001 annual report, prepared by PwCoopers for Cicloplast, is that the plastic packaging sector reached 19 per cent recycling, surpassing by four percentage points, to the legal objective of the directive and the Spanish law (15%).
During the year 2001 were recovered (diverted from landfill) 414,000 tons of plastic packaging waste, of which 57% is recycled, and the rest, to energy recovery
"Compared to other European countries, also bound by the same packaging directive, Spain is located on the upper level next to the Group of countries that, as Germany, Austria or Belgium, exceeded already in 2000 the legal target of 15 per cent of recycled." "On the other hand France, United Kingdom and Denmark, for example, is placed in the level of those that did not reach the 15 per cent."-indicates Angel Luis Bautista, President of Cicloplast.
During the year 2001 were recovered (diverted from landfill) 414,000 tons of plastic packaging waste, of which 57 per cent is recycled, and the rest, to energy recovery.
Whereas all applications of plastics, the report indicates that the packaging sector remains the leader in terms of recycling, representing 76 percent of the total number of plastics that were whose in Spain, in the year 2001.
The evolution experienced in the past five years, shows a significant reduction (32%) of the amount of plastic that went to landfill sites, even taking into account that the plastic consumption has continued to grow in the same period. The reason has been the dramatic increase in the recycling of plastics, which has been of 251 per cent since 1996.
While the consumption of plastic containers in Spain rose 3 percent in 2001 over the previous year, reaching 1.2 million tons, the recycling of the waste generated from plastic containers increased by 14.5 percentreaching the figure of 234,000 tonnes recycled plastic containers in 2001.
The most spectacular change has occurred with household packaging. Spain, during the year 2001, recycled 48 percent more plastics of domestic origin to the year 2000. All this is thanks to the Green point system, introduced in Spain since 1998. The remarkable progress in the selective collection of the yellow container, already reaching to 66 per cent of the population, the operation of 52 plants classification and technological improvements in plastic recycling facilities, have decisively, contributed to this result.
New this year, the Cicloplast report includes a strategic analysis on the horizon in 2006, taking into account the legal imperatives of European directives of packaging, automotive, electricity & electronics, the Decree on recovery of agricultural plastics and the voluntary commitment of the PVC industry in their various applications.
For the specific case of the directive on packaging and the objectives that are being raised for 2006, annual growth results in Spain during the last years has been exponential, but no so once called "maturity curve", from which (period 2001-2006), increased by one percentage point in recycling of plastics is much more difficult to achieve.
For that reason, according to the Cicloplast report, Spain could reach 20 per cent of recycled plastics in 2006 but, in any case, a compromise of 25 percent in the same year should be, because this would force increased by 81.3 per cent recycling with regard to the current level, something virtually impossible to achieve. "Plastics has complied with the aim of the directive and Spanish law of packaging for the year 2001". They expect new challenges in 2006. Fortunately, we have come a long way in a short time. The formula for progress now is simple: have a good infrastructure of recyclers, who need raw materials in quantity and quality. Get it, is in our hands, in the all. The cooperation of citizens in the selective collection of plastic yellow container is the first step. "Therefore, Cicloplast is dedicating each year, much of its resources to environmental education." - it summarizes the Cicloplast President.
During the year 2001 were recovered (diverted from landfill) 414,000 tons of plastic packaging waste, of which 57 per cent is recycled, and the rest, to energy recovery.
Whereas all applications of plastics, the report indicates that the packaging sector remains the leader in terms of recycling, representing 76 percent of the total number of plastics that were whose in Spain, in the year 2001.
The evolution experienced in the past five years, shows a significant reduction (32%) of the amount of plastic that went to landfill sites, even taking into account that the plastic consumption has continued to grow in the same period. The reason has been the dramatic increase in the recycling of plastics, which has been of 251 per cent since 1996.
While the consumption of plastic containers in Spain rose 3 percent in 2001 over the previous year, reaching 1.2 million tons, the recycling of the waste generated from plastic containers increased by 14.5 percentreaching the figure of 234,000 tonnes recycled plastic containers in 2001.
The most spectacular change has occurred with household packaging. Spain, during the year 2001, recycled 48 percent more plastics of domestic origin to the year 2000. All this is thanks to the Green point system, introduced in Spain since 1998. The remarkable progress in the selective collection of the yellow container, already reaching to 66 per cent of the population, the operation of 52 plants classification and technological improvements in plastic recycling facilities, have decisively, contributed to this result.
New this year, the Cicloplast report includes a strategic analysis on the horizon in 2006, taking into account the legal imperatives of European directives of packaging, automotive, electricity & electronics, the Decree on recovery of agricultural plastics and the voluntary commitment of the PVC industry in their various applications.
For the specific case of the directive on packaging and the objectives that are being raised for 2006, annual growth results in Spain during the last years has been exponential, but no so once called "maturity curve", from which (period 2001-2006), increased by one percentage point in recycling of plastics is much more difficult to achieve.
For that reason, according to the Cicloplast report, Spain could reach 20 per cent of recycled plastics in 2006 but, in any case, a compromise of 25 percent in the same year should be, because this would force increased by 81.3 per cent recycling with regard to the current level, something virtually impossible to achieve. "Plastics has complied with the aim of the directive and Spanish law of packaging for the year 2001". They expect new challenges in 2006. Fortunately, we have come a long way in a short time. The formula for progress now is simple: have a good infrastructure of recyclers, who need raw materials in quantity and quality. Get it, is in our hands, in the all. The cooperation of citizens in the selective collection of plastic yellow container is the first step. "Therefore, Cicloplast is dedicating each year, much of its resources to environmental education." - it summarizes the Cicloplast President.
The evolution experienced in the past five years, shows a significant reduction (32%) of the amount of plastic that went to landfill sites, even taking into account that the plastic consumption has continued to grow in the same period. The reason has been the dramatic increase in the recycling of plastics, which has been of 251 per cent since 1996. While the consumption of plastic containers in Spain rose 3 percent in 2001 over the previous year, reaching 1.2 million tons, the recycling of the waste generated from plastic containers increased by 14.5 percentreaching the figure of 234,000 tonnes recycled plastic containers in 2001. The most spectacular change has occurred with household packaging. Spain, during the year 2001, recycled 48 percent more plastics of domestic origin to the year 2000. All this is thanks to the Green point system, introduced in Spain since 1998. The remarkable progress in the selective collection of the yellow container, already reaching to 66 per cent of the population, the operation of 52 plants classification and technological improvements in plastic recycling facilities, have decisively, contributed to this result. New this year, the Cicloplast report includes a strategic analysis on the horizon in 2006, taking into account the legal imperatives of European directives of packaging, automotive, electricity & electronics, the Decree on recovery of agricultural plastics and the voluntary commitment of the PVC industry in their various applications. For the specific case of the directive on packaging and the objectives that are being raised for 2006, annual growth results in Spain during the last years has been exponential, but no so once called "maturity curve", from which (period 2001-2006), increased by one percentage point in recycling of plastics is much more difficult to achieve. For that reason, according to the Cicloplast report, Spain could reach 20 per cent of recycled plastics in 2006 but, in any case, a compromise of 25 percent in the same year should be, because this would force increased by 81.3 per cent recycling with regard to the current level, something virtually impossible to achieve. "Plastics has complied with the aim of the directive and Spanish law of packaging for the year 2001". They expect new challenges in 2006. Fortunately, we have come a long way in a short time. The formula for progress now is simple: have a good infrastructure of recyclers, who need raw materials in quantity and quality. Get it, is in our hands, in the all. The cooperation of citizens in the selective collection of plastic yellow container is the first step. "Therefore, Cicloplast is dedicating each year, much of its resources to environmental education." - it summarizes the Cicloplast President.
During the year 2001 were recovered (diverted from landfill) 414,000 tons of plastic packaging waste, of which 57% is recycled, and the rest, to energy recovery
In relation to the other forms of recovery, energy recovery of plastics in Spain stood at 8.8 percent in the year 2001, figure far below the European average (23%) and other countries, as for exampleSwitzerland (73%), Denmark (75%), Netherlands (59%) or France (32%).
Cicloplast has recently diversified its activities to other sectors of application of plastics, other than the packaging materials. Recycling agricultural plastics is already a reality in motion in Andalusia, the Cicloagro management system, which has started its action in Huelva with the plastics used in the cultivation of strawberries of the 2001 campaign-driven / 2002.
On the other hand, the pilot Ciclotub 2002 in Catalonia, under the direction and coordination of AseTUB, Cicloplast and the CCR-Junta de RESIDUS, will involve the selective collection and subsequent recycling of plastics in the construction. "Surpassed the objectives of the year 2001, we are still working for the future." 20 Percent of the plastic packaging is recycled so that in the year 2006. So in 2008 we recover 100 per cent of agricultural plastics of Andalusia. "To ensure that 50 per cent of available PVC waste is recycled in the year 2005".-concrete Teresa Martínez, Director general of Cicloplast
Cicloplast has recently diversified its activities to other sectors of application of plastics, other than the packaging materials. Recycling agricultural plastics is already a reality in motion in Andalusia, the Cicloagro management system, which has started its action in Huelva with the plastics used in the cultivation of strawberries of the 2001 campaign-driven / 2002.
On the other hand, the pilot Ciclotub 2002 in Catalonia, under the direction and coordination of AseTUB, Cicloplast and the CCR-Junta de RESIDUS, will involve the selective collection and subsequent recycling of plastics in the construction. "Surpassed the objectives of the year 2001, we are still working for the future." 20 Percent of the plastic packaging is recycled so that in the year 2006. So in 2008 we recover 100 per cent of agricultural plastics of Andalusia. "To ensure that 50 per cent of available PVC waste is recycled in the year 2005".-concrete Teresa Martínez, Director general of Cicloplast
Related Companies or Entities
Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Tubos y Accesorios Plásticos
Cicloplast, S.A.
