PLASTICS & RUBBER WEEKLY
Published: September 12, 2013 2:16 pm ET
Updated: September 12, 2013 2:18 pm ET
A plastics recycling level of 62 percent is achievable by 2020 according to Brussels-based Plastics Recyclers Europe, which has released a study showing that a higher recycling rate for plastics will create benefits for the European Union's environment, economy and resource efficiency.
"This study, commissioned to Bio Intelligence Service, aims to put forward the most suitable scenario in order to further improve the sustainability of plastics via recycling in Europe in the period to 2020," said Ton Emans, president of the trade group, which represents plastics recyclers in Europe.
"Enhancing plastics recycling will save scarce resources, create jobs and reduce environmental impacts."
He added that the current plastics recycling situation "is no longer acceptable. In the long run, economic growth, demographic changes and growing scarcity of raw materials will not allow Europe the luxury of wasting 76 percent of all plastic materials used."
Urgent measures are needed in order to increase recycling rates for plastics, he said, adding: "This study proposes crucial measures that should be taken in order to achieve this." | 
