A technology that supports environmental protection

The mechanical and chemical recycling of plastic waste helps reduce the amount of plastic waste. It is known that more than 50 million tonnes of various plastic products are used in Europe every year, generating 29 million tonnes of waste. Of that waste, 32% is recycled, 43% is used for energy production and the remaining 25% is deposited in landfills.

The goal of the European Union’s circular economy strategy is to recycle 55% of plastic waste by 2030 – reaching this is still a problem in Estonia. We manage to recycle only a little over 25,000 tonnes of the approximately 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated every year. If Estonia wishes to fulfil the EU plastic waste recycling goal, one possible solution is to also invest in the chemical recycling of plastic waste in addition to mechanical recycling.

As the mixed plastic granule to be produced is made of waste, we will achieve a significant saving of resources. The footprint of the new plastic produced from reprocessed material will be 60% smaller compared to products made from petroleum and will in turn allow plastic producers to make more environmentally friendly choices. Further developments of the project would, for instance, allow the introduction of the mixed plastic granule gasification technology, which would make the production of new plastic more environmentally friendly.

Thanks to the planned circular economy unit, the recycling of plastic waste in Estonia will increase by 15 percent (from 25% to 40%) and the pyrolysis oil which is the end product will help reduce the consumption of raw materials of fossil origin. The plant would give a new life to approximately a third of the plastic waste generated in Estonia.