Strengthening the recycling of technical plastics in the view of increasing substance legislation requirements using the example of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) - KUREA

Abstract

Although there is a considerable potential for the recycling of technical plastics from ELV and WEEE in Germany, the status is deficient and targeted measures are needed to develop appropriate capacities.The report provides a comprehensive status quo analysis on the legal framework, material requirements, a description of the most relevant types of plastics as well as interfering and polluting substances during recycling, a detailed account of the use of plastics in electrical and electronic equipment as well as in vehicles, and a detailed description of the existing process chains for the treatment of plastics from the two waste streams. In addition, lab-scale experiments were carried out in which promising approaches were tested.Against this background, separation and recycling strategies were derived and measures and recommendations for action were developed for political as well as economic actors.