The TRANSFORM partner Rhein-Lahn-Kreis operates a mechanical biological treatment plant, that separates comingled household waste into a biological fraction, metals and a high calorific fraction. The latter has so far been marketed as refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and thus sent for thermal utilisation. One goal of the project is to “transform” the plastics it contains into new products, which requires further processing of the RDF fraction. This is the area of expertise of “TOMRA Sorting GmbH” in Rhineland-Palatinate. In cooperation with “Zimmermann Recycling & Transporte GmbH” and with support of “IfaS” and “bCircular” a first test sorting of the RDF fraction took place at “TOMRA Sorting GmbH” in 2020. By screening and near infrared (NIR) sorting, the 28% share of mixed plastic waste could be determined. The output was NIR sorted again in a second step to obtain the Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP), which is more suitable for the IEM pilot plant (Recycling of low-value plastic waste in injection moulding processes) in Almere. As a result, a share of 15% PE and PP can be assumed in the RDF fraction of the residual waste.

As a next step, approximately 2.5 tonnes of mixed plastics and 1.4 tonnes of the PE/PP fraction will be delivered to the pilot plant of “save plastics” in Almere in autumn 2021.