Austria must recycle more packaging materials. Especially for plastic packaging waste, significant increases are necessary to reach the EU recycling targets for 2025 and 2030. In addition to improving separate collection and introducing a deposit system for specific fractions, the share of plastic packaging in mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) could be utilized. In Austria, about 1.8milliontonnes of mixed MSW are generated. This includes about 110,000 t/a of plastic packaging waste. Most of the mixed MSW (94 %) is sent directly or via residues from pre-treatment, such as mechanical-biological treatment or waste sorting, to waste incineration. While materials such as glass and metals can also be recovered from the bottom ash, combustible materials such as plastics must be recovered before incineration. This work aims to evaluate the recovery potential of plastic packaging waste in mixed MSW with automated waste sorting. For this purpose, two of the largest Austrian waste sorting plants, with a total annual throughput of about 280,000 t/a, were investigated. The investigation included regular sampling of selected output streams and sorting analysis. The results show that the theoretical recovery potential of plastic packaging from these two plants is 6,500 t/a on average. An extrapolation to Austria results in a potential of about 83,000 t/a. If losses due to further treatment, such as sorting and recycling, are considered, about 30,000 t/a of recyclate could be returned to plastic production. This would correspond to an increase in plastic packaging recycling rate from 25 % to 35 %.

Through the Circular Economy Package, the EU aims to reduce material imports and environmental impacts of waste management. Ambitious recycling targets should help to achieve these objectives. As a response, the waste industry developed technical and organizational solutions that can intervene at different stages of a waste management system in order to increase the recovery of recycling materials, starting with improved separate collection over the use of modern material recovery facilities up to the enhanced treatment of waste incineration ashes. The large question is how each of these options can contribute to increase recycling rates to achieve a circular economy. By reviewing case studies as presented in the most recent literature published since the year 2010 from European countries on the recycling of post-consumer packaging waste of glass, metals, paper, and plastics, this study contributes to answer this question. In the first stage, the review found 644 articles matching with the search terms and published since the year 2010. Of these, 46 remained for an in-depth analysis, since 319 did not present case studies as defined in the scope of this article. The articles reviewed provide a good overview on the state of knowledge on increasing recycling of post-consumer packaging waste by improved separate collection, material recovery facilities, and waste incineration bottom ash treatment. Additional information and case studies, however, are required, particularly large-scale experiments to test new separate collection systems, large-scale with different feedstock material at the most-modern material recovery facilities and waste incineration bottom ash treatment plants.

The increasing demand for plastic and the shortcoming of overall plastic recycling rates underscore the necessary transition towards a circular economy. In Austria, more than half of the generated plastic waste, especially non-packaging waste, is incinerated because of its disposal in mixed wastes. This highlights a vast untapped potential for recycling. While prior research has primarily focused on recycling plastic packaging waste from mixed waste origin, this study addresses a critical gap by exploring the recycling of non-packaging plastics in different concentrations by specifically examining rigid polypropylene (PP) sourced from a mixed waste material recovery facility. The methodology involves mechanical pre-processing of plastics, such as washing and sink-float separation, followed by polymer processing to evaluate the recyclates’ tensile (impact), thermal, morphological and rheological properties. Results indicate that the dirt content of rigid PP after sorting is comparable to that of separately collected waste. Furthermore, homogeneous recyclates with minor polyethene impurities were produced, the quality of which is comparable to commercially available recyclates regarding elastic modulus and yield stress. Although further research on odour contamination, substances of concern, long-term applicability and environmental and economic aspects is necessary, this study demonstrates that a substantial amount of PP can be recovered from mixed wastes in Austria. Ultimately, recycling such plastics can considerably contribute to circularity efforts.

Mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) of cities and tourist-heavy areas typically contains elevated amounts of recyclable materials. In Austria, numerous material recovery facilities exist for processing this waste; however, they primarily focus on separating metals, neglecting the recovery potential of other recyclables. To evaluate such potential for polyolefins and paper-based materials, two pilot-scale trials were conducted in a model region in Tyrol, Western Austria, accompanied by comprehensive sampling, waste characterisation, and material flow analysis. Pre-concentrates with up to 70% purity were obtained using two stages of near-infrared sorting, although challenges arose due to the presence of textiles and composite materials. This study found that separating polyolefins from mixed MSW could increase recycling rates in the region by up to 16% (absolute). Paper recovery also showed a modest increase. Polyolefin recovery slightly lowered, whereas paper recovery moderately raised the heating value. Recycling such materials is technically feasible, and forthcoming legislative changes are expected to create a market for these materials. Although fundamental questions remain regarding the optimal balance between recycling and refuse-derived fuel, as well as concerns about microbiological or chemical hazards, it can enhance resource efficiency, develop circularity, and aid comparison in regions with similar demographic and tourism characteristics.

Plastic pollution is a topic that increasingly concerns consumers all over the world. Policymakers and industry practitioners are also called upon to work on solutions. One strategy to fight those amounts of plastic is recycling, which can only be achieved if consumers are convinced of the value and importance of plastic. Two online questionnaires with consumers were conducted in Austria, where separate collection infrastructure is well established, but recycling targets for plastic packaging are still unsatisfactory. The perception of the material itself, the material as waste, and the material as packaging was investigated. Results show that plastic is perceived as significantly worse than other materials (i.e. glass, paper, and metal) in various dimensions (perception as valuable, good, important, and natural). However, when asked if it is convenient, plastic comes close to the good evaluation of the other materials. The overall negative perception was also supplemented by participants' free associations, whereby an apparent dissonance between glass and plastic was identified. While plastic was associated with an overwhelming amount of waste and as "unnecessary," glass creates more ambivalent associations: although the higher weight is perceived as unfavorable, positive associations such as "recyclable" and "sustainable" predominate. Researchers, companies, and policymakers need to take this dissonance seriously and work to reconcile public perception by responsibly using and designing plastic packaging and enhance convenience during the disposal stage. This must be accompanied by clear consumer education, so that plastic is perceived as valuable material that consumers consider important to recycle.