SECOND

AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

ON

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

April 9-11 2007

PACKAGING WASTE MANAGEMENT

Dr. Noha Abdallah Abd El-Mohsen Mohamed, Helwan University, Faculty of Applied Arts, Printing, Publishing& packaging Dept.

Key Word

Source Reduction, Land filling, Eco-labeling, Returnable, Reuse, And Closed Loop

Abstract

Packaging waste represents important part in growing waste stream, selecting

the package material is very important decision that affect environment and

waste management process, introducing producer responsibility into the

management of packaging materials and aims to minimize the impact of

packaging waste on the environment by reducing the amount going to landfill

should be considered. There should be return, collection and recovery systems to

meet targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste.

In Egypt we have to choose the most suitable healthy friendly material that can

replace those imported materials.

The paper study the most important packaging materials, the full systems used

in management packaging wastes, the regulations that affects packaging sector,

how we can convert to friendly healthy package, green environment by studied

decision and complete packaging waste management system.

1. INTRODUCTION

Collecting, transporting, processing and disposing waste material is known as waste

management. The aim is to clean up the surrounding environment and see that the waste does

not have a detrimental effect on our health. Nowadays waste management has gone a step

further and not only plans proper disposal but also attempts to see whether we can reuse and

recycle certain materials from waste matter.

Waste management differs from country to country and in urban and rural areas. Also how

waste is managed in a commercial industrial area will be very different from how it is handled

in a residential area. Experts have classified waste into different hierarchies. One group has coined the term 3 Rs

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle to classify waste. The main aim of such classification remains the

same, produce less waste and reuse as much as you can.

Waste treatment refers to the activities required to ensure that waste has the least practicable

impact on the environment. In many countries various forms of waste treatment are required

by law.)7)

Economic theory defines waste as a negative externality. Consumer and industrial activities

produce waste that has a negative effect on environment.

The assessment of environmental pollution generally results from a political decision which

determines the level of externality correction and focuses on the costs of site remediation.

The value of waste is therefore the cost that it represents in terms of environment and its

protection.

- All waste has an initial cost (of collection) then a negative or positive exchange value

depending on whether the value of the products (energy or material) after treatment covers

associated site remediation and elimination costs or not after the addition of any

environmental taxes and or deduction of any subsidies.

The clear definition between waste and non waste seems to be the deciding factor for

economic waste market.

As The boundary beyond when waste stops being waste is located at the level of materials

than can be recovered, recycled or reused and therefore in the definition of terms recovery,

reuse, recycling.

Waste has many origins, household waste often linked to consumerism mainly collected by

local authorities. Although it is not always possible to make a distinction,

- Household waste includes other urban wastes produced by economic activities (shop,

restaurant ...) giving rise to the term “municipal waste”.

- Industrial waste, often directly linked to production (and some times directly reinjected into

the production process) or “end of life of certain products. (8)

Packaging is defined in the Regulations as ' .all products made of any materials of any nature

to be used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and preservation of goods from

the producer to the user or consumer. (9, 10)

The main packaging materials are paper/fiberboard, plastic, glass, steel and aluminum. Wood

packaging is also included as is packaging made from other materials e.g., jute ceramics etc.

It can be divided into three broad categories:

Primary packaging is the wrapping or containers handled by the consumer.

Secondary packaging is the term used to describe larger cases or boxes that are used

to group quantities of primary packaged goods for distribution and for display in

shops.

Transit packaging refers to the wooden pallets, board and plastic wrapping and

containers that are used to collate the groups into larger loads for transport, which

facilitates loading and unloading of goods.(9,12)

Because of its large volume, packaging waste tend to be very visible. Approximately 70% of

primary is used for food and drink which is often discarded in a dirty state and contaminated

by residues of the original contents. (10)

2. PACKAGING WASTE MANAGENT PROCESSES

Protecting the environment and reducing the negative impact of packaging on the

environment is an important consideration. However there is no single solution to solid waste

problem. Only an approach incorporating a combination of various processes will help society

to address this issue.

We have to develop an integrated waste management system in which all existing waste

disposal technologies are used in a certain hierarchy:

- Source reduction

- Re-use

- Recycling

- Incineration with energy recovery for non recyclable

- Land filling in well engineered sites for non recyclables and non burnable.

2.1 Source Reduction

This process is not new. It has been source reducing for many years, metal food cans have

been light weighted by more than 60 %, glass bottles by 35 % and more recently PET soft

drinks bottles also by 35 %.

But in all this product quality and safety requirements must be kept in mind. (11)

Reduce: Means trying to avoid over-packaged goods. This can lead to void space in the

package, which is both a wasteful use of resources and misleading for consumers. In Korea,

over-packaging is being prevented through legislative standards for certain types of

packaging. For example, processed foods can have no more than 15% of the volume of the

package taken by void space, and no more than two layers enclosing the product.

Avoid buying small containers where possible. An example might be to purchase one large

bottle of drink instead of individual small bottles or cans. (10)

2.2 Re-use

The most direct way to recover packaging is by reusing it in its original form.

Reusable packaging has to be sturdier to withstand cleaning processes, increased

transportation and handling. This leads to increased material and energy use during its

manufacture. Recycling activities also have an environmental impact, mainly in terms of

energy consumption, because recyclables need to be transported, cleaned and reprocessed

before they can be turned into new products.

Using returnable bottles avoids the creation of package waste.

This concept can be done with returnable glass bottles that can be used by collecting system

and refilling the bottles for several times it can reach up to 20 trips.

For some food products, the refillable concept is possible to apply at home in reusable

container (metal, glass or plastic) with the required convenience features built in (easy

opening, pouring and reclosing. (11)

2.3 Recycling

Many packaging materials can be collected for recycling these include paper and glass and

plastic bottles. (10)

We should, where ever practical use packaging material which are recyclable and make sure

that packages are easy to dispose of ( by careful design) through recycling schemes (by a

careful choice of the materials).

The use of agreed recycling logos is a good way to educate the consumers to the important

role of recycling.

Concerning the utilization of packaging materials with a certain recycled content coming from

post-consumer sources we have to be cautious. Glass and metal can be reintroduced into new

product containers. Product quality and food safety must remain the key factors. (11)

2.4 Landfill

Landfills are the most common practice in many countries as it is a relatively inexpensive

method of disposing of waste materials. The disposed waste is usually compacted and covered

to prevent vermin and wind-blown litter. Landfills usually have a system to extract the gas

that the decomposing waste matter generates. Opposition from adjacent landowners especially

in urban areas have made it difficult to establish new landfills and the authorities have to

transport it further away for disposal making disposal more expensive.

2.5 Incineration

Incineration destroys waste material by burning it. Regarded as a practical method of

disposing of hazardous waste materials, it has of late, become controversial for many reasons

such as the fact that it creates toxic gas and ash, which can harm local populations and pollute

groundwater.(7)

In order to facilitate the ultimate disposal of packaging waste through incineration or landfill

and working to eliminate heavy metals from inks and pigment and at the same time reducing

the use of solvent-based inks and coating.

3. PACKAGING WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS & STRATEGIES

As we explained before there are different processes used for packaging waste management.

To solve the problem of wastes increasing there should be system planned perfectly to ensure

getting ride of waste and keep the environment clean and healthy, European countries made

systems and plans to solve this problem.

How do other countries deal with this issue? Can we benefit from their experience? These are

very important questions; we can explain the answer in the following:

3.1 Eco Labelling System

Eco labeling is a term that was born out of green consumerism .The United Kingdom

Government resolved to control claims over labelling supposedly “green products” by the

introduction of a system of green or (eco-) labeling.

Environmentally friendly refer to those products which “have an overall environmental

impact significantly less than that of other products in the same product group”.

Eco labels will be awarded based on an assessment of a product against a set of environmental

criteria. The criteria used will be chosen after conducting a full life cycle analysis on the

product group. Table (1) indicates a matrix describing product life cycle stages against

various environmental fields. This matrix has been amended from an earlier version.

Table (1) matrix of environmental assessment (11)

PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE

ENVIRNOMENTAL FIELDS

Pre-production production Distribution Utilizatio

n

Disposal

Waste relevance

Soil pollution and degradation

Water contamination

Air contamination

Noise

Consumption of energy

Consumption of natural resources

Effect on eco-system

Another significant concern that the process of defining environmental criteria for use in the

assessment process will by definition specify that one standard of performance is somehow

environmentally acceptable (or friendly). The implication of this might be that manufacturers,

converters, etc would seek only to reach the minimum standard of performance necessary to

quality for an eco-label. (11)

3.2 Packaging Waste Management Strategies

Analysis Study of Packaging Waste management in European Countries

Countries have different approaches to creating packaging waste management systems. Four

of the five countries investigated have chosen a scheme that makes producers responsible.

Some countries include all packaging waste in the system, while others focus primarily on

commercial waste. In general, the systems include a number of measures and aim mainly at

increasing recovery and recycling, while efforts on prevention of packaging waste are clearly

less embedded in the systems.

3.2.1 The General Objectives of the Packaging Directive

The directive aims to harmonize national measures for managing packaging and packaging

waste. The aim is to prevent or reduce impacts on the environment of all Member States and

other countries, thus providing a high level of environmental protection by using additional

fundamental principle, at reusing packaging, and recycling and other forms of recovery of

packaging waste, hence reducing the need for disposal.

3.2.2 The Directive's Specific Targets

In addition to the general objectives, the directive has three sets of specific targets:

• Targets for the management of packaging waste (maximum for land filling in 1998 and

2001, and minimum for recycling of packaging materials)

• Recycling targets for companies with individual collection (self-compliers)

• Targets for refilling, recycling and energy recovery of beverage containers.

Distance to target: The directive requires Member States to recycle a minimum of 25 % of

packaging waste by 2001, increasing this to 55 % by 2008 in the revised directive.

However, it is clear that some countries are still far from the target. Germany has the highest

rate at about 75 % and Ireland the lowest at 27 %. The 25 % target has been reached for all

Member States together and seven countries have already reached the 2008 target. (2)

3.2.3 The reporting on environmental measures (REM) evaluation framework

Studies the effectiveness of environmental policies are complex. They require a good

understanding of the relationships between the aims, tools available to implement them and

the changes in environmental quality that have been achieved, as well as good knowledge of

other independent developments that affect environmental quality and the outcome of

policies.

3.2.3.1 Overview of the REM framework

The Reporting on Environmental Measures project presented a framework for evaluating the

effectiveness of environmental policies is see flow chart figure (1).

The framework explores the relationship between the needs of society for a policy measure

and its final impact on human behavior and the environment.

The effects of an environmental policy are the outputs that can be directly attributed to its

implementation. This requires link between the policy action and its intended impacts on

human behavior and the environment.

The effectiveness of a measure is a judgment about the outcome; whether or not the

objectives and targets of the policy measure have been achieved. This requires comparing the

effects of the measure with its intended objectives. Not all outcomes are direct consequences

of the outputs: they occur as a chain with other influencing variables.

The cost-effectiveness of a measure is a comparison of the effects of a set of measures with

the costs of implementing them.

Figure (1) The REM framework

A full evaluation comprises the following questions:

Relevance: Are the objectives justified in relation to the needs?

Effects: How has the measure affected behavior, the environment and the economy?

Effectiveness: Are the outcomes and outputs meeting the objectives of the measure?

Cost-effectiveness (efficiency): Have these objectives been achieved at lowest cost?

Utility: Have the overall effects of the measure intended and unintended, good and bad

contributed to a net increase in social welfare? This is the kind of question posed in a cost-

benefit analysis (CBA). (1)

3.2.3.2 Developing response indicators and mapping them onto the framework

The effectiveness of packaging waste management systems should describe and measure

politically-induced efforts to achieve the objectives and targets of the packaging directive and

national legislation. Response indicators can be defined and categorized in many ways. Three

broad categories are suggested:

a. number/types of policies/instruments applied

b. indicators that measure the implementation of policies

c. indicators that measure the impact of the responses in terms of improved management of

packaging waste:

For the evaluation of the effectiveness of the national packaging waste management systems,

the response indicators in Table (2) will be used.

The first response indicator shows the types of measures that have been implemented. It

illustrates how a country has chosen to deal with packaging waste and implement the

packaging directive.

The second set of indicators aims to measure the effectiveness of the system. Indicators 2

apply to the decoupling of packaging waste from economic growth, 3 and 4 to the objective of

prevention.

Indicator 4, the quantity generated per capita, is included to enable comparison of the systems

in the final phase of the analysis.

Three economic indicators are suggested: the total costs of the entire system for all packaging

materials, the costs per tone of packaging waste recovered, the revenue from taxes on

packaging (if any).

Objective

Needs

Inputs Outputs

Outcomes

Impacts

Relevance Effectivenes

s

Cost-effectiveness

Utility and sustainability

Other outcomes include the fraction of companies participating in compliance schemes. The

real aim of this indicator is to present the number of companies not participating in the

scheme, i.e. self-compliers and free riders. As companies can usually choose to transfer their

obligation to a third party or to manage their own waste, it is generally difficult to get exact

figures for non-participation. This indicator measures the actual implementation of policies.

Table (2) Applied response indicators

Austria had a system in place before the directive was agreed in 1994. Their producer

responsibility scheme for packaging waste (ARA) was established in 1993. It has managed to

reach very high levels of recovery and recycling, much higher than required by the directive,

and already fulfils the targets for 2008 in the revised directive.

ARA is a full-cost system, covering more of the costs of collection, sorting and recovery than

the other countries investigated. Consequently it is relatively expensive.

ARA authorizes the 'green dot' logo to be placed on the packaging of products whose

manufacturers have paid a given rate. The green dot indicates that the companies have

transferred their obligation for the collection and recovery of material to ARA, which finances

the collection, sorting and recovery of the packaging waste.

About 60 % of the packaging waste collected by ARA is from private households and 40 %

from industry and commerce (1)

Applies to No. of indicator

Implemented measures 1. Type of measure in place in the system

Effectiveness 2. change in packaging waste generation 1997-2001,%

3. Total packaging waste generation, tones.

4. Packaging waste generated kg/capita per year.

5. Total recovery rate, %

6. Total recycling rate, %

7. Recycling of each packaging material, tones

8. Recycling rate for each packaging material, %

Cost-effectiveness Total costs of packaging schemes :

9. Financing need, packaging waste generated(or collected)

10. Change in financing need per tone recovered, %

11. Revenue from taxes and similar instruments charged on

packaging ,Eur/capita

Other outcomes 12. Fraction of companies participating in compliance

schemes, %

3.2.4 Distribution of responsibilities

Responsibility for transposing the directive into national legislation lies with the Ministry of

the Environment which is also responsible for monitoring whether the directives and national

targets are met or not. The producers and importers supply data of the quantity of packaging

placed on the market, either through ARA or directly to the Ministry of the Environment,

which then monitors compliance with the legislation. ARA is not the only compliance scheme

as there are several other collection and recovery systems in Austria. But ARA is the largest

and covers about 95 % of packaging material.

In the following, the obligations of ARA represent those of all the compliance schemes. The

obligation to provide information about the management of packaging waste rests with the

Ministry of the Environment.

ARA also has a legal obligation to engage in information activities. In line with the producer-

responsibility principle, collection and management of packaging waste are carried out by the

producers and importers themselves, who also meet the costs of these activities. The

distribution of responsibilities in the packaging system is presented in table (3).

Table (3) Distribution of responsibilities in the packaging system

Activity Responsible

Transposition of directive into national

legislation

Ministry of the environment

Monitoring of meeting targets (national -

directive)

Ministry of the environment

Monitoring and control of compliance Ministry of the environment- ARA

Information on management of packaging

waste

Ministry of the environment-ARA

Supplier of packaging data ARA + other compliance schemes + self

+compliers

Collection of packaging waste

- From households?

- From industry/commerce?

ARA + other compliance schemes + self +

compliers

60% of the packaging waste is collected

from households.

40% of the packaging waste is collected

from industry and commerce.

Recycling and treatment of packaging waste ARA + other compliance schemes + self +

compliers

Expenditures of packaging system ARA + other compliance schemes + self +

compliers

3.2.4.1 Implemented measures

The main measure in the Austrian system is producer responsibility, and this was

implemented in 1993, before the adoption of the directive. Moreover, Austria has set national

targets for recycling of individual packaging materials to be achieved by 1996 that were more

ambitious than those required by the directive (to be achieved in 2001).Some companies

chose to fulfill their obligations under the legislation individually (i.e. not transferring them to

a compliance scheme). However, companies not participating in a scheme and not complying

with their obligations are considered as 'free riders.

Companies that choose to manage the take-back obligation themselves are required to meet

extremely high recycling targets: 95 % for metals and ceramics; 93 % for glass and 90 % for

paper and cardboard. The targets are significantly higher than for companies that join a

compliance scheme (which has to fulfill the national as well as the directive's targets). Such

an initiative clearly creates an incentive to join a scheme, provided that the mechanism of

control and monitoring works well.

The measures cover a broad range of instruments (Table 4). The majority are administrative

instruments aimed at increasing the recycling of packaging waste. The only direct economic

instrument is the landfill tax. In addition, the costs to producers of managing packaging waste

provide an economic incentive to limit the amount of packaging placed on the market. Other

administrative instruments have been used, such as awareness rising, but no detailed

information is available. (1, 2)

Table (4) Measures of packaging waste in Austria

Measure Year of

introduction

Purposes/Targets Relation of the

objective to the

directive

Deposit system for

beverage

containers

1990 Only mandatory for refillable

beverage bottles.

The purpose is to ensure the

reuse of beverage containers

and prevention of packaging

waste generation by reducing

the use of disposable

packaging.

Quantitative targets have been

set for refilling, recycling and

energy recovery.

To support high

collection rates as a pre

requisite for high reuse/

recycling rates.

Prevention of

packaging waste.

Regulation

(packaging

ordinance and

target ordinance

1992 and 1996 Producer responsibility

schemes. Management of

packaging waste. Specific

target have been set for

recovery for total packaging

waste and individual

materials.

To meet the recycling

and recovery targets of

packaging directive.

Landfill tax 1996 To upgrade old landfills and

ensure suitable pre-treatment

of waste.

To reduce final

disposal of waste and

support the recovery

targets.

Ban on landfilling

of mixed waste

2004 To eliminate the landfilling of

untreated waste.

To reduce final

disposal of waste.

3.2.5 Waste Prevention

The deposit system for beverage containers and producer responsibility are the only two

measures with a clear preventative effect Table (5).The deposit system is aimed at preventing

waste generation by the reuse of bottles.

Precise information on the number of reused bottles is limited, but the systems seem to be

under pressure there has been a large increase in non-refillable plastic bottles and a

simultaneous decline in beverage deposit systems. Moreover, there are indications of a rapid

decrease in refillable since the share of refillable beverage packaging has fallen from 59 % to

53 % in two years (2000–2002).The ARA system provides an economic incentive in the form

of a weight-based fee for packaging waste placed on the market to limit the quantity of

packaging. The same applies to expenditure by self-compliers.

Self-compliers also have to meet higher targets (than those in the packaging directive) which

could be costly and thus provide an even greater incentive to reduce the total amount of

packaging and the various kinds of materials put on the market.

Increased recycling It is evident that the ARA system has been the most important measure

for improving the environmental performance of packaging waste management.

The landfill tax and ban are not aimed directly at packaging waste since separated packaging

waste is seldom land filled (being either recycled or incinerated). However, the measures have

a supportive effect on packaging waste that ends up, for example, in mixed household or

commercial waste. The measures therefore mainly support diversion from landfill towards

recovery of packaging waste. The landfill tax may have supported development in the past,

but has hardly been the main driving force. The landfill ban, however, only entered into force

in 2004 and cannot yet have had much effect. (1)

Table (5) General information on measures

Administrative instruments Aimed at prevention Aimed at increased recycling

Producer responsibility √ √

Deposit systems for

reusable beverages

containers

√

Prevention programmers √

Awareness raising √

Mandatory collection √

Landfill ban for packaging

waste

√

Economic instruments

Landfill tax √

3.2.6 Waste Exchange

A waste exchange provides an arena where materials discarded by one company can be re-

used by another company. This can include production by-products, un-used raw materials,

wastes and recyclable materials. The exchange works by providing information on any waste

products, companies may wish to sell any materials you may be looking for. Other companies

registered with the exchange can make contact to buy your waste or sell theirs. Waste

exchanges help to reduce the consumption of virgin materials and production of waste, but

can also increase the profitability of the companies involved.

The system has been running successfully in the USA for many years and there are several

waste exchanges now in the UK. Many are based on internet sites for easy and rapid exchange

of information. (9)

4. ENVRINOMENTAL ASSESMENT OF PACKAGING MATERAILS

Packaging serves many functions as well as being an important marketing tool, including

protection of the product during transport, keeping the product fresh, conveying information

to consumers and ensuring ease of use and storage. The optimal solutions for each of these

functions are different, and trade-offs are therefore necessary, both in packaging design and

in systems for managing waste packaging. Conflicts also arise within waste policies in

dealing with disposal alongside the need to manage waste as a resource. (12)

Environmentally friendly packaging: Many claims are made to promote a particular

product, where possible to buy packages that can be recycle. Some packaging is promoted

as being biodegradable. Although when composted this is a good way to lessen

environmental impact, it is important that these materials do not end up being land filled

as then the material cannot biodegrade. (10)

Mixed material packaging can in some cases have the benefits of being more resource and

efficient than single material packaging, but combining materials makes recycling

difficult. An example of this type of packaging is 'Tetra Pak' which typically consists of

75% paper, 20% polyethylene and 5% aluminum foil. Although many beverages are sold

in this type of packaging, it is very difficult to recycle these packages. For plastic the high risk of contamination by unknown substances prevents post-consumer

plastic waste being reused in food applications. (11)

Glass is a familiar household material, most commonly found on jars and bottles

containing food and drinks. Glass is natural, pure easily shaped, transparent, strong, and

completely inert, properties which make it ideal for packaging. It is also uniquely

sustainable because it can be recycled again and again without any loss in quality, purity

or clarity; this process saves energy, emission and natural resources.

Glass is the best use of a valuable resource as once it is collected for recycling it should be

consider as valuable resources, which must be used wisely. Recycled glass can be used in a

closed loop to make new containers it also has a range of additional uses such as shot blast

abrasive, water filtration medium, and fluxing agent in brick manufacturing, fiber glass or

aggregates.

To identify packaging needs and optimize performance, a Life Cycle Analysis can be used to

analyze the environmental impacts of each stage of a product's life cycle from raw material

extraction to final disposal. (11)

The important question that should be answered is which use most benefits our environment?

The environmental consultancy carried out a study into the relative environmental benefits of

the various options. They used a life cycle approach to develop a model for each recycling

option taking into account all of the energy and emission associated with collection,

transporting, processing and manufacturing .(6)

Abundance of the raw material used for packages manufacturing is very important

consideration, glass structure mostly based on silica the principle component of sand which is

available with high purity here in Egypt, using available friendly package depending on

abundant raw material instead of imported ones should be taken into account.

The Impacts of recycling glass is:

- If recycled glass is used to make a new bottle and jars, the energy needed in the furnaces

is greatly reduced. (4)

- After accounting for the transport and processing needed, the study showed that 315 kg

of co2 was saved per tones of glass melted. (2)

- Crushed glass can replace sand in water filtration.

Actually the best use for recycled glass is as a feed stock in the manufacture of new glass

packaging. Recycled glass should be directly towards the most beneficial use. Collection

method should be managed practically to ensure that co2 reduction are maximized. (5)

The decision of choosing package material is very important issue as it should cover various

requirements, table (6) illustrate suggested matrix of package selection requirements

including environmental ones.

Table (6) Suggested matrix of package selection requirements

Packaging material

Requirements

Glass Metal Paper Plastic Other

Environmental requirements

Environmentally friendly

Output of table (1)

Reusable

Recyclable

Biodegradability

Cleanliness

Source reduction

Environmental impacts :

Incineration

Landfill

Packaging requirements

Availability

Low cost

Packability

Protection of content

Compactness

Consumer requirements

Commercial requirements

5. The Environmental state in Egypt

According to Egyptian environmental monitoring system statistics of 2004, results indicates

that 84% of the establishments contracted with municipal system or one of the responsible

authorities for waste removing but 16 % is not. (15)

The proportion of solid waste removal is illustrated in the figure below.

Consistent

84%

Inconsistent

16%

Consistent

Inconsistent

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Organic Glass Metal Plastic Paper Other Fabrics

Figure (3) the municipal content percent of different solid waste material

(16)

The graph indicates the classification of solid waste content by material in Egypt according to

the statistics of 2004 by environmental affairs, organic waste represents from 50-60% of

waste, Glass 1-5%, plastic from 7-12%, paper 10-22%.

No detailed information about packaging sector is available.

5.1 The Main Traditional systems of solid waste management in Egypt

1. The Governmental system: As municipal or cleanliness authorities collect, transport

the local waste from streets and general garbage bins to deposits.

2. Traditional garbage householders system: this traditional system has been used for

long time since last century: garbage is collected from houses and establishments to

Figure (2) the environmental state of solid waste removal

deposits that can be sorted and recycled, the amount of waste collected by this system

reach 3000 tone per day in Cairo about 30% of waste generated per day, although this

system is low cost one, it doesn’t obligate health and cleanliness requirements.

3. The private urban companies system: This system is considered developing of the

previous one.

5.2 Challenges of waste management in Egypt

In Egypt waste is considered one of the main problems that affected with many subjects; it

can be summarized in the following points:

Accumulated waste piles that existed for many years in many regions.

Open missy garbage deposits that should be get ride of by suitable studied ways that

subjected to environmental policies.

Waste Incineration that increased obviously in recent years.

Peoples wrong behavior in dealing with waste.

The real absence of monitoring, inspection of environmental systems.

There is no complete system in Egypt for collecting, transporting, sorting wastes, no

effective collection network established.(15)

5.3 The National strategy of waste management in 2000

Egyptian ministry of environmental affairs made its strategy for solid waste management in

2000 to establish a system; this system depends on two points:

Removing old accumulated piles and resetting the waste deposits.

Establishing a complete waste management system that include transporting, sorting,

source reduction, recycling and safely getting ride of wastes in urban and rural area.

Guidance documentation for solid waste management was set including legislation and

definition of packaging waste management. (14)

The figure below illustrate the included information system & waste management exchange

System Monitoring

Environment Affairs

tSystem Technical Suppor

Consultants, Experts,

Scientific establishments,

MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM

Information system Resources-Technologies

Scientific establishments

Experts

Wastes producers Wastes Users

System Support

Recovering companies

Transporting company

Waste selling order

Contracting

Waste delivery Material delivery

Material order

Sample sending

& contracting

Figure (4) Information system of solid waste exchange (14)

6. CONCLUSION

Obligated activities within the 'Packaging chain' are:

Manufacture of packaging raw materials e.g. the manufacture of plastic powder flakes

Converting materials into packaging e.g. converting plastic granules into rolls of film

Using packaging to pack products e.g. stacking goods onto a pallet and wrapping them

in film

Selling packaging to the final consumer e.g. selling a product in a plastic tray

Importing of packaging or packaging materials into the country.

The obligations are based on:

How much packaging handled over the previous year;

What activities of associations are involved in?

National recovery and recycling targets.

Succeeded strategies used by different countries depend on:

All companies who make or use packaging have a share in the “responsibility” to

ensure that the packaging is recycled or recovered.-producer responsibility obligations

(packaging waste Regulation).

Regulation and consultation introduced the concept of “Material Specific Differential

Targets” or different targets for different packaging material.

The most common method of dealing with this Directive is to have more direct

centralized legislation like a direct tax on packaging manufacturers and users which is

then used to fund a central organization which develops the recycling systems

necessary to collect and reprocess the packaging once it has been used.

There is a great deal we can learn from these countries ,firstly they have taken these

environmental issues much more seriously than we do , they have taken strong central

government action and they have acted early . The practical means of collecting

recyclables, technology and systems are well known.

7. RECOMMENDATION

Introducing producer responsibility into the management of packaging materials and

aims to minimize the impact of packaging waste on the environment by reducing the

amount going to landfill is considered an important issue should be included in

Egyptian legislation.

Introducing the concept of waste management targets is very important for perfectly

achieving the environmental strategies directives.

Environmental assessment matrixes of product life cycle and package selection

decision should be filled and used seriously.

The requirements of establishing return, collection and recovery systems and to meet

targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste should also taken into

account.(9)

Landfill and incineration taxes should be paid and used to fund the complete system of

collecting, transferring, sorting and distributing into the right stream to recovered and

recycled...

Selecting available friendly material depending on studied matrix used in packaging

should be the first consideration that affects environmental issues.

The effectiveness of packaging waste management systems should describe and

measure politically-induced efforts to achieve the objectives and targets of the

packaging directive and national legislation.

Responsibility for transposing the directive into national legislation lies with the

Ministry of the Environment which is also responsible for monitoring whether the

directives and national targets are met or not.

REFERENCE

1. "Effectiveness of packaging waste management system in selected countries” study-

Official Publication of the European countries,2005.

2. Five reason to Recycle Glass “- British Glass Sheffield,www.britglass.org.uk

3. www.britglass.org.uk/industry/background_ppw

4. http//glass-ts.com

5. www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp

6. http.ec.europa.eu/envirnoment

7. www.innoarticles.com/waste management

8. Elisabeth la Costa, Philippe Charmin-An abstract of 2006 world waste survey,2006

9. www.ehsni.gov.uk/teritary

10. www.wasteonline.org.uk

11. Mary Murphy,” Packaging and the Environment”, Pira International 1992.

12. Walter Soroka, “Fundamental of Packaging Technology”, Institute of packaging 1996.

13. www.the-envirnoment-council.org.uk

14. Solid Waste integrated management National strategy, Egypt, 2000.

15. Egypt solid waste Guidance documentation, 2001.