Future Household Plastic Packaging Waste in Gothenburg
Publicerad
Författare
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Plastics are a major source of fossil CO2 emissions, with packaging plastics being the
largest stream globally and in Sweden ( SOU 2024:67; SWD/2022/384). Rising consumption
and low recycling rates lead to more waste being incinerated, contributing
significantly to emissions over the plastics’ life cycle. Sweden and the EU have introduced
regulations to reduce waste and increase recycling rates. The most recent
addition is the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Emissions
from Swedish waste-to-energy incineration due to plastic waste remain a key
concern. To reduce incineration emissions, the focus must be on waste prevention
and improved sorting to enable more recycling. However, without clear projections,
municipalities like Gothenburg risk misallocating efforts and planning capacity. To
plan effectively, they must assess how future packaging waste flows may develop.
This report aims to analyse future plastic packaging waste flows in Gothenburg, focusing
on how PPWR will shape municipal waste management. It seeks to project
how the flows of plastic packaging waste might change up until 2030 and investigate
the impacts of PPWR. Furthermore, the study aims to examine how future flows
of plastic packaging waste may affect the direct fossil CO2 emissions from the WtE
plant in Sävenäs. Three research questions guide the study: What is the current
flow of plastic packaging waste in Gothenburg and how is it managed? What are the
projected flows of plastic packaging waste in Gothenburg in 2030 accounting for the
impacts of PPWR? What would be the associated changes in direct CO2 emissions
from the Waste to Energy (WtE) facility in Gothenburg? Methods include material
flow analysis, waste projections, and lifecycle assessment, each building on the other.
Results show that, of the 16 kt of plastic packaging waste generated in 2024, 71%
is incinerated, emitting 31 kt of CO2. By 2030, plastic packaging waste can possibly
increase by 6 kg/capita or decrease by 10 kg/capita. This indicates that a
reduction in waste generation and achievement of associated regional and national
targets is possible. The wide range of projections is due to many uncertainties, such
as input data accuracy as well as how and if PPWR measures will be implemented
in practice. Nevertheless, if PPWR is implemented successfully, plastic packaging
waste can be reduced in Gothenburg. However, additional measures will be needed
to meet ambitious targets. These may include targeted information campaigns for
households in apartment buildings to increase their low sorting rates, or new building
requirements to support source sorting indoors.
The study identifies several aspects of interest for further investigation, including
how to prepare for shifting waste streams, potential increases in paper packaging
waste, and changes in recycling station usage. Additionally, reduced plastic packaging
waste may have broader system effects, such as increases in other packaging
types, substitution of other materials with plastic, and unequal competition within
the EU if implementation of PPWR varies between countries.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Plastic Packaging Waste, MFA, Sensitivity Analysis, Waste Projection, PPWR, EPR, Municipal Waste Management, WtE