Where the Shoe Pinches -Tackling Current Market Challenges for Recycling Plastics from WEEE

As one the fastest growing waste streams in the EU, waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) growing at 3-5% per year, with an estimated generation above 12 million tonnes for 2020, has emerging and urgent potential for recycling. This paper gathers information on the current recycling market challenges, takes a look on weaknesses and needs of the secondary market for post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. On one side, barriers currently preventing or making the use of PCR plastics unfavourable and on the other side drivers pushing the application of post-consumer plastics in industrial sectors are investigated. The outcomes of the investigations, were categorized to underline technical/technological, economic and legal.