ReVise
ReVise - Improving the process efficiency of mechanical recycling of post-consumer plastic packaging waste through intelligent material flow management
Post-consumer packaging waste (LWP) is Germany's largest plastic waste stream, accounting for 3.16 million Mg/a. Despite past technological improvements, the results so far of mechanical post-consumer plastic recycling in Germany are unsatisfactory. In 2019, only about 19 Ma.-% (1.02 Mio. Mg/a) of post-consumer plastic waste could be transferred into recyclates, and only 8 Ma.-% (0.43 Mio. Mg/a) were used for substitution of virgin material.
The research project ReVise aims to improve the process efficiency of mechanical recycling of post-consumer plastic packaging waste through intelligent material flow management. By further developing sensor-based material flow characterization methods, it should be possible to characterize material flows in LWP sorting plants automatically, reproducibly, and in real-time by applying optical sensors. The resulting data on material flow characteristics will optimize material flow management within the sorting plant. In addition, sharing the obtained material flow data along the value chain is also investigated to improve the overall recycling of packaging plastics.
In an initial concept phase (9 months), the ReVise consortium under the consortium leadership of ANTS investigates the feasibility of sensor-based material flow characterization and material flow equalization on a pilot plant scale. The findings developed from the improved, modified material flow management investigations will be verified in large-scale balancing campaigns. At the end of the concept phase, project results will be discussed in a workshop with various stakeholders in the value chain and will result in a concept with which the consortium will apply for a subsequent implementation phase (3-5 years).
The concept phase of the ReVise research project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Project partners of the concept phase are Hündgen Entsorgungs GmbH and STADLER Anlagenbau GmbH.