1
Alexandre Dangis
EuPC (European Plastic Converters)
LABELLING AGRICULTURAL PLASTIC WASTE FOR VALORISING THE WASTE STREAM
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Workprogramme EuPF AGRI TWG
– Prepare input for EU Commission Labelagriwaste project • Recommendations for legal requirements to EU Commission
– Stimulate local/regional collection systems of plastics agricultural waste
– Define input specifications together with PE films recyclersby working with EuPR Film group
– Maximum 2 meetings/ year
– Participation limited to EU AGRI film producers & recyclers
• Duration 36 months
• Industry leader: spanish company tbc
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Participants - consortiumIAG's: Industrial Associations/Groupings
CYPANAGROTIKOSPANAGROTIKOS SYNDESMOS CYPRUS 7
FFLCFL FEDERATION LANGUEDOCIENNE DE LA
COOPERATION DES FRUITS ET LEGUMES6
ICONFAGRI-
COLTURA CONFAGRICOLTURA 5
ELPASEGES PANHELLENIC CONFEDERATION OF UNIONS OF
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES 4
ECICLOPLASTCICLOPLAST 3
BEUPREUROPEAN PLASTICS RECYCLERS
ASSOCIATION 2
BEUPCEUROPEAN PLASTICS CONVERTERS
ASSOCIATION 14
CountryParticipant short
name
Participant namePartic.
no.
4
Participants and consortiumSMES Group
ELPOLYECO POLYECO S.A. MANAGEMENT AND
VALORIZATION OF WASTE INDUSTRY 12
FISUOMENSUOMEN UUSIOMUOVI OY11
IPATI PATI 10
EINSERPLASA INDUSTRIAL SEVILLANA RECICLAJE DE
PLASTICOS S.I. 9
IALFAEDILE ALFA EDILE R.R.L. ECOLOGY DEPARTMENT8
CountryParticipant
short name
Participant namePartic.
no.
5
Participants and consortiumRTD Performers
ELTITANTITAN CEMENT SA19
DUSTUTTUNIVERSITAET STUTTGART 18
IUNIBAUNIVERSITY OF BARI PROGESA DEPARTMENT 17
EGAIKER FUNDACION GAIKER 16
FCEMAGREF CENTRE NATIONAL DU MECHANISME
AGRICOLE, DU GENIE RURAL, DES EAUX ET
DES FORETS
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ELAUAAGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS 1
CountryParticipant
short name
Participant namePartic.
no.
6
Agricultural plastics
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Today:
• A large portion of agricultural films are left on the field or
burnt uncontrollably by the farmers releasing harmful
substances with the associated negative consequences to
the environment.
• Aesthetic pollution and landscape degradation of regions
of natural beauty. South Europe… only?
• Safety of the food produced in such fields?
Agricultural plastic wastes
IMAGE ISSUE FOR PLASTICS
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LABELAGRIWASTE: Objectives (1)
• Develop standardised procedures and integrated methodologies to label the agricultural plastic waste streams in order to facilitate their routing to the best alternative processing and final disposal:
�most environmental friendly and economically valuable and technically feasible solution
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LABELAGRIWASTE: Objectives (2)
• Transforming used agricultural plastics into a commodity that can be transported across boundaries, traded in the open market and routed to the best alternative processing and disposal.
• Developing a systematic labelling scheme and policy recommendations for the appropriate disposal and/or utilisation of the agricultural plastic wastes. This will support relevant standardisation CEN and/or other legislation activities for cleaner environment and economy of natural resources.
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LABELAGRIWASTE: Objectives (3)
• Developing farming practices that will improve the quality of the waste
• Maximizing the range of the specs a waste stream should meet to qualify for a processing/ disposal option.
• 5 Work Packages have been set up by the consortium
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Objectives
AnalyseAnalyse the generation, collection and disposal practices practices of agricultural plastic wastes over Europe.
Identify and analyseIdentify and analyse the technical and economical critical parameterscritical parametersaffecting the quality / value of the agricultural plastic waste stream through the agricultural plastic waste generation-collection-disposal scheme.
DocumentDocument the European, international, national and regional legal legal
frameworkframework concerning several aspects of the agricultural plastic waste management (composition of the waste, agrochemicals, transportation of waste, water and air pollution prevention) and identify the legal differences across national barriers and any conflicts or gaps in legislation.
InvestigateInvestigate analytical methodologies and labelling schemes already already
appliedapplied in other industrialin other industrial sectorssectors that could be adopted in the agricultural plastic waste streams and compatibility/synergetic schemes with other waste streams.
WP 1. Critical parameters and legal framework of
agricultural plastic wastes chain
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Objectives
Correlate / quantify the qualityCorrelate / quantify the quality of the agricultural plastic waste stream to its initial composition, use, collection/ treatment, storage and composition, use, collection/ treatment, storage and
transportationtransportation in order to quantify the key control parameters and establish the quality assurance system supported by the labelling scheme.
Expand the rangeExpand the range of acceptable material for each disposal option by eliminating technical hurtles and investigating differences between waste disposal plants. Determine the constraints and conditionsDetermine the constraints and conditions to be applied in the form of specifications for each disposal alternative and develop a simple classification methodology of wastes – labelling criteria per disposal option aimed at the environmental safe, technically feasible and cost effective disposal.
WP 2. Pre-normative research aimed at overcoming scientific challenges for consolidation/ validation of
agricultural plastic waste labelling scheme to maximize valorization of the waste stream
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Objectives
Organize and carry out pilot testsOrganize and carry out pilot tests to implement the results of the previous work package, putting into practice the alternative technical guidelines for the final users.
Evaluate, optimize and validateEvaluate, optimize and validate the collection scheme in the farm, the labelling methodology and the operating range of the disposal processes based on the extended pilot effort.
Get feedbackGet feedback from the SMEs group and the interested parties that will lead to the optimization and enhancement of the entire system.
WP 3. Testing labelling alternatives / evaluation and validation of the
alternatives
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Objectives
Manage the information flowsManage the information flows between partners and establish establish
the strategythe strategy to disseminate the labelling scheme and the obtained results of the project.
Raise awarenessRaise awareness of the dimensions of the agricultural plastic waste problem and force the creation of a critical mass to solve research issues and technological problems related to the development development
and implementation of legislationand implementation of legislation.
WP 4. Dissemination, Exploitation and Policy Recommendations
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Objectives
TrainingTraining is the capital element leading to the adoption and adoption and
implementationimplementation in the long run of the labelling scheme.
While the dissemination (WP 4) will focus on why the SMEswhy the SMEs should adopt the proposed scheme (merits of the scheme), the training will focus on how to adopton how to adopt the proposed recommendations.
Training to be conducted mainly by the IAG'smainly by the IAG's, directed firstly to their SME-members: to bring the scientific recommendations to the level of the user and to answer all the questions that arise from the particularity of their members.
Technical assistanceTechnical assistance for the training will be provided by the RTD performers.
WP 5. Training
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• Films
• Pipes
• Rigid and flexible (High Density Polyetilene)
• Coated Fabrics (i.e. protective plastic for trucks)
• Plastic nets (i.e. birds and insects)
• Plastic pots
• Plastic bags for fertilizers and agrochemicals
• ……………………………..
Articles included in the Project
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Articles included in the Project
Agriculture ”thick” film Agriculture ”stretch” film
Potato ”thin” film
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Some information about Spain
• The following charts have been prepared by
Cicloplast (E) and have been provided into
the consortium
• Labelagriwaste is developping similar
information & knowledge about this plastic
market in the EU 27
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Consumption Agriculture Plastics
Consumption Agriculture Plastics 99-04 (ton)
235.482236.584235.597
230.402
219.142
208.788
190.000,0
200.000,0
210.000,0
220.000,0
230.000,0
240.000,0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
ton
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Consumption agriculture by polymers.
Consumption Agriculture Plastics by Polymers ( 2004)
PEBD42%
PEAD15%
PP6%
PVC33%
OTROS4%
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FILMSMulching
Tunnel
Greenhouse
Silage
OthersMeshes
Agrochemicals Packaging
Others
47%
22%
Pipes 31%
Agriculture Plastics in Spain.
TOTAL 100%
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Spain vs Europe
EUROPE 2004:
TOTAL PLASTICS CONSUMPTION= 31.400 KT
AGRICULTURE PLASTICS= 850 KT
AGRICULTURE PLASTIC FILMS = 400 KT
SPAIN 2004:
TOTAL PLASTICS CONSUMPTION= =3.749 KT
AGRICULTURE PLASTICS = 235 KT
AGRICULTURE PLASTIC FILMS = 110 KT
Spain represents 28% of the total agriculture plastics in Europe.
Films includes Mulching, Tunnels, Greenhouse and silage
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50.22113.812115.131TOTAL SPAIN
33.6988.81681.739ANDALUCIA
005.105EXTREMADURA
01047.714CAST la MANCHA
0610CAST y LEON
7.42200CANARIAS
070ARAGON
17404.700NAVARRA
6781571.137CATALUÑA
1200880BALEARES
00530LA RIOJA
000CANTABRIA
000ASTURIAS
01900PAIS VASCO
5.08609.005REGION DE MURCIA
2.5504.0694.042COM VALENCIANA
03980MADRID
49310279GALICIA
GREENHOUSETUNNELSMULCHINGREGIONS
Crops Quantities
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Mulching quantities.
Total: 115.131 Ha
4.700 ha4.700 ha
1.137 Ha
5.105 Ha
880 Ha
279 Ha
4.042 Ha
9.005 Ha
530 Ha
7.714 Ha
81.739 Ha
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Tunnel quantities.
Total: 13.812 Ha
7 ha7 ha
157 Ha
398 Ha
10 Ha
4.069Ha
190 Ha
61 Ha
8.816 Ha
104 Ha
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Greenhouses quantities
Total: 50.222Ha
678 Ha
2.550 Ha
33.698 Ha
7.422 Ha
5.086 Ha
120 Ha
493 Ha
174Ha
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Main Crop Areas in Andalucia
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Andalucia Crops
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
ANDALUCIA CROPS(% ha)
MULCHING TUNNEL GREENHOUSE
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Evolution of Plasticulture in Spain
Evolution of Plasticulture in Spain.
020.00040.00060.00080.000
100.000120.000140.000
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
ha
Mulching Tunnel Greenhouse
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Farmplastics in the UK*
• Each year about 550,000 tonnes of non-natural wastes are generated on farms in England, of which it is estimated that about 85,000 tonnes is waste plastic.
• Over 90% of holdings produce plastic waste, with packaging waste estimated to be about 21,000 tonnes each year and non-packaging plastic waste estimated at about 65,000 tonnes per year. This latter figure is bolstered by the high levels of contamination (soil and other debris) associated with silage wrap and horticultural films
*Website DEFRA
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Interesting websites
http://sunfire.aua.gr:8080/law
www.farmsubsidy.org
www.agwasteplastics.org.uk
The website in the UK enables farmers to search for collectors of plastic waste in their area, and for collectors to find suitable processors of agricultural waste plastics.
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Conclusion
• Via EuPC (EuPF) and EuPR the plastic films extruders & recyclers can influence and/orcontribute to this project. They can furthermoreanalyse together the increasing use of plastics in the agricultural market
• Farmers are eager to find alternative markets forthe use of their products but a lot needs to be doneto communicate with their farmers community onthe responsable use of plastics in order to have a good image for plastics