Are BFRs hindering recycling ?
Recycling BFR containing plastics is perceived as problematic due to the presence of legacy POP BFRs . Some stakeholders perceive them as hindering the yield from plastics recycling . BSEF commissioned the consultancy SOFIES to undertake a study on BFR-containing plastics and WEEE recycling in 2020 . The results reveal that BFR additives and BFR-containing plastics are not the substantive factor when it comes to yield from end-of-life WEEE plastics recycling . Key findings include the following . In total , 2.6 million tonnes / year of WEEE plastics are generated , mainly PP ( 20 % of the total ), ABS ( 19 %), ( HI ) PS ( 18 %) and PC / PC-ABS ( 7 %). Brominated plastics represent about 9 % of the total , mainly ABS ( 4 %), epoxy ( 3 %) and HIPS ( 1 %). The remaining 27 % includes other engineering polymers , such as PA 6 , PA 6,6 , POM , PBT and PMMA . Secondly , WEEE plastics contain significant loads of additives , whether fillers , flame retardants , plasticisers or others , and as such must be sorted out prior to recycling . On average , 55 % of WEEE plastics entering recycling facilities will actually be turned into regranulates . This yield is mainly influenced by the composition of the plastics , particularly the share of target polymers ( PP , PE , ABS , PS and eventually PC-ABS ) and their densimetric profile . The remaining 45 % cannot be sorted using conventional sorting technologies and / or are unsuitable for recycling , due to their detrimental impacts on quality or lack of demand . The levels of legacy BFRs in WEEE plastics , primarily the PBDEs , have decreased significantly over the last few years , demonstrating the positive effect of regulatory restrictions to phase out these legacy substances . PBDE levels can be expected to tail away to below measurable levels in the coming years and this trend is already evident today . Finally , 98 % of BFR plastics collected can currently be separated and disposed of through official WEEE recycling channels . The report and its recommendations are now being considered with the recycling industry and shared widely with stakeholders , including policymakers and regulators .
Supporting the Circular Economy
As part of its global Circular Economy Action Plan , BSEF and its member companies are engaged in several projects to improve end of life recycling of materials containing BFRs . For instance , BSEF , the North American Flame Retardant Alliance and its member companies , are supporting a new approach to sorting and separating legacy BFRs from non-restricted BFRs using novel blockchain technology . The pilot project will involve a chemical-based hidden ‘ barcode ’ system pioneered by Security Matters , alongside a unique ‘ reader ’ to identify these codes . These will enable a blockchain record to be developed to store and protect ownership data . The technology will be used to differentiate current and new BFR technologies from legacy BFR chemistry .
The bromine industry , along with its value chain , is also innovating the way it helps manage materials with legacy chemicals . One example of this is the EU LIFE co-funded Polystyrene Loop Project , designed to provide a large scale demonstration plant using the CreaSolv dissolution process . The project involves the construction of a large-scale demonstration plant . A demonstration plant than can handle 3,000 tonnes / year of PS waste is being constructed adjacent to ICL-IP ’ s Terneuzen plant in the Netherlands and is scheduled to start operations in 2021 . This technology , combined with the high-temperature incineration of HBCDD , which is a POP under the Stockholm Convention , and a bromine recovery unit ensure the recycling of HBCDD-containing PS foam waste into manufacturinggrade PS , full and safe destruction of HBCDD and the recovery of the bromine present in it .
Concluding remarks
The Circular Economy is a journey , not a destination . It will take time , investment , innovation and sound policies to move towards economies that rely more on reusable , repairable and recyclable materials and products . The bromine industry is committed to working closely with policymakers , regulatory authorities , its value chains and other stakeholders to encourage further sustainable endof-life solutions across the different applications of bromine . Some solutions are easily or more readily available and achievable . Others will take time and require both innovation as well as pragmatism in terms of what is realistically feasible . •
References :
1 : CEFIC Views on Circular Economy 2.0 : Towards a Carbon- Smart Circular Future
2 : www . bsef . com / wp-content / uploads / 2020 / 06 / BSEF- Position-Paper-Circular-Economy-Action-Plan-June- 2020-short-version1 . pdf
3 : www . bsef . com / bromine-the-circular-economy /
4 : Article 8.5 of the WEEE Directive 2012 / 19 / EU requires the establishment of standards for the collection , treatment and re-use of waste electrical and electronic equipment . These standards are published by CEN as a series – 50625 . S . R . CL / TS 50625-3-1:2015 addresses inter alia treatment of bromine containing plastics
Nuno Bacharel
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
BSEF k + 32 2 436 96 01 J nbacharel @ bsef . org j www . bsef . org
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