Material Flow Analysis of Plastic in Iceland - Moving Towards a Circular Economy
Author: Emilie Desjardins
Year: 2021
Supervisors: Einar Jón Ásbjörnsson , Hlynur Stefánsson
Abstract:
This research thesis analyzes the flow of plastic materials in Iceland and highlights changes needed to move the current system towards a more circular economy. A circular economy is an economic system that seeks to use materials to their fullest without needing to send them to a landfill and helps reduce the need for resource extraction to produce new materials. An important factor in creating a domestic circular economy for plastic is to ensure proper country-wide recycling and reuse strategies are in place that use only renewable energy resources. The current state of circularity for plastic is roughly 6.3% for Iceland.With the new European Commission legislation and the introduction of fee restrictions for shipping plastic waste to other countries, it will become more challenging to continue to export plastic waste without incurring fees. Key focus areas include the need for improved domestic recycling infrastructure and policy regulations to help enforce recycling practices. An ideal infrastructure uses a network of mechanical and chemical recycling technologies to process all plastic waste. The material flow analysis developed in this study is the beginning stage of a feasibility study for new plastic recycling methods in Iceland. The results estimate annual waste production at 31,643.8 Tonnes from plastic packaging and the fishing industry.The polymer distribution consists of low-density polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, with this information making it possible to continue with specific mechanical and chemical recycling feasibility studies. Iceland does have some policy regulations already in place, with additional taxation on all imported raw plastic materials will increase the use of recycled plastic at the manufacturing level. Manufacturers and recycling facilities will need to work together to support and develop improved product design and increased recyclability of plastic products. Iceland has a known reputation for sustainability leadership, and implementing a plastics circular economy will again help set the bar globally for other countries to follow their lead.