Packaging can be disposed of in separate collection, whether recyclable or not in the state of current technologies, without prejudice to the good rules for quality separate collection (first of all the possibility of always emptying the packaging of its contents). In fact, thanks to the CONAI – Supply Chain Consortia system, the packaging that can be sent and used for recycling will follow that specific flow; the others will be valorised in any case with energy recovery.
An evaluation of the packaging’s recyclability is one of the additional pieces of information that a company may choose to display on the packaging, but this is independent of the information regarding the correct disposal of the packaging.
The only exception to this rule concerns composite packaging (and / or with components of different materials that cannot be separated manually) with a prevalence of paper, with a percentage of cellulosic material less than 60% of the total weight, which must be collected in undifferentiated collection. The packaging thus constituted, which to date are not recyclable, if disposed of in separate collection and managed in the recycling flow of paper packaging, would weigh significantly on the generation of waste in the recycling process, even implying a greater environmental impact and increased difficulties. management, also to the detriment of the overall quality of the secondary raw material generated by the recycling process.
Packaging considered recyclable in accordance with the technical standard UNI EN ISO 13430 meets the criteria of eligibility for existing recycling technologies, namely:
- existence of an efficient recycling technology for the type of packaging;
- existence of a critical mass so that an efficient recycling process may be managed;
- existence of a market for recycled materials.
These criteria must be assessed via specific surveys and studies.
Further details are available in the CONAI Essential Requirements Guidelines defined by Directive 94/62 / EC on packaging and packaging waste available at the following link:
www.conai.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2015/01/Requparmi_essenziale_Conai.pdf .
Last modified on 19/11/2021