Page 27 - Plastics News Issue March 2024

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

Funding for this visionary project is generously provided by NAFRA
and BSEF, facilitating the installation of readers and barcodes across
member companies. Robert Simon, representing NAFRA and
the American Chemistry Council, emphasized the transformative
potential of this initiative. Simon highlighted the prospect of
streamlining operations, eliminating unnecessary hurdles, and
expediting the delivery of recycled products to their intended
destinations.

Beyond the realm of recycling, SMX foresees broad applications for
its cutting-edge technology, extending into various industries such
as fashion. This collaborative effort signals a significant step forward
in advancing sustainability and circular economy principles within
the plastics industry.
Source:-

(https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2024/03/06/chemical-barcodes-tested-to-help-sort-plastics/#:~:text=The%20
project%20will%20demonstrate%20SMX's,them%20to%20the%20appropriate%20destination.)
Alliance to End Plastic Waste urges source separation

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), headquartered
in Singapore, has introduced two strategic playbooks aimed
at bolstering the collection and sorting of plastic packaging
for recycling. These playbooks, part of the "Solution
Model" series, are crafted to enhance the understanding of
stakeholders throughout the plastic value chain regarding
the potential and requirements for developing a circular
economy for plastics.
Collaborating with the Singapore branch of the Boston
Consulting Group (BCG), AEPW has rolled out the first
two playbooks: "Engaging Households in Segregated
Municipal Waste Collection" and "Unlocking Value Through
Basic Manual Sorting of Municipal Waste."

The "Engaging Households" playbook underscores the pivotal role of household source separation in enhancing recycling
efficiency and reducing landfill disposal costs. It outlines successful initiatives in Argentina, China, India, and Indonesia
aimed at encouraging households to segregate discarded materials.

Meanwhile, the "Unlocking Value" handbook accentuates the significance of efficient plastic scrap recovery methods,
particularly in regions with limited infrastructure or nascent recycling systems. It offers insights into utilizing cost-effective
equipment to streamline manual sorting processes.

Jacob Duer, President and CEO of AEPW, emphasizes the imperative of collaborative efforts to address the plastic
waste challenge and transition towards a circular economy. He stresses the need for environmentally sound, socially
responsible, and economically feasible solutions, urging collective action across public and private sectors.

The AEPW plans to collaborate with stakeholders to implement the playbooks' strategies, recognizing the complexity of
the plastic waste issue and the necessity for multifaceted solutions. Additional playbooks and explanatory materials are
slated for release on the AEPW website later this year.

PLASTICS NEWS 27
March 2024