Navigating Volumes and Value Chains Towards Circularity: Electrical & Electronics (E&E)
Circular Plastics NL (CPNL) continues to research and provide insights into the plastics value chain, now focusing on Electrical & Electronics (E&E). The sector has a significant import surplus (~52 kton) to meet Dutch consumption levels (~165 kton), but only ~75 kton enters the waste stream, primarily due to the rapid electrification of society.
Challenges in Waste Collection and Recycling
Of the ~75 kton of E&E plastic waste, only ~40 kton is collected for sorting and recycling. The rest is lost in mixed waste streams, often contaminating other materials. Even within collected waste, ~12 kton is lost during sorting, and another ~42% is lost in recycling. High plastic fragmentation remains a challenge, though the sector has shown potential for recovering various plastic types.
Outlook and Future Actions
Currently, only ~22% of E&E plastic waste is recovered as recyclates. While the European Commission is reviewing the WEEE Directive, the Dutch National Circular Plastics Plan (NCPN) already proposes a ~30% mandatory recycled or biobased content requirement. Achieving this target requires doubling the use of recycled plastics and/or biobased materials.
- Hazardous substances in E&E waste limit recycling potential, necessitating both immediate and long-term solutions:
- Enhancing recyclability by design – Prioritizing plastics to reduce fragmentation and improve recyclability.
- Eliminating hazardous substances – Exploring material substitution, advanced separation, and recycling technologies.
- Designing for disassembly and sorting – Structuring products to facilitate efficient material recovery.
Regulation and Data Transparency
Regulatory enforcement and clear targets are crucial given the sector’s reliance on imports. Evaluating current WEEE Directive collection targets is essential, as the 65% collection rate based on past sales does not reflect actual waste availability. Digital Product Passports (DPPs), soon to be mandatory under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), could improve transparency and enhance recycling efforts.
A Call to Action
To meet circular economy goals, the E&E sector must:
- Strengthen sorting and recycling infrastructure.
- Implement regulatory incentives for circular design and material traceability.
- Utilize Digital Product Passports to improve transparency and recycling metrics.
- Address hazardous substances through stricter regulations and advanced recycling technologies.
CPNL will continue to explore these challenges and opportunities in upcoming deep dives. The full analysis on ‘Circular Plastics NL: Navigating Volumes and Value Chains Towards Circularity’ will provide a detailed breakdown of volumes, waste streams, and circular economy solutions. It will be published soon, following the deep dives into the value chains.
Previous deep dive: Agriculture, Farming & Gardening, Building & Construction
Coming up: Automotive and Houseware, Leisure & Sports, Packaging, Textiles