The SKZ Plastics Centre is participating in a project to improve the recycling of post-consumer waste using sensor technology.

 

According to the information provided, the main aim of the project is to optimise material flow analysis through the use of sensor technology in order to improve the sorting of plastic waste and reduce quality fluctuations. The BMBF-funded research project "ReVise-UP" (Improving the process efficiency of mechanical recycling of post-consumer plastic packaging waste through intelligent material flow management - implementation phase) started in September 2023. In the four-year implementation phase of the project to improve the transparency and efficiency of mechanical plastic recycling, sensor-based methods for material flow characterisation are to be developed and demonstrated on an industrial scale. The improvement is to be achieved through three effects based on the data transparency achieved by the sensor data: Firstly, the increased data transparency should provide positive incentives for improved collection and product qualities. This could increase the quantities and qualities of recycled material. Secondly, the aim is to make it possible to adapt the sorting, preparation and plastics processing procedures to fluctuating material flow properties by means of sensor-based characteristics. Thirdly, the improved data situation should enable a holistic ecological and economic assessment of the value chain.
 
Johannes Rudloff, Head of Materials, Compounding and Extrusion at the SKZ Plastics Centre, says: "We are proud to be able to contribute to this important topic with our expertise in the field of plastic materials and recycling." A total of 18 research institutes, associations and industrial partners are participating in the project. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding ReVise-UP with 3.92 million euros as part of the "Resource-efficient circular economy - plastics recycling technologies (KuRT)" funding guideline.
 
Further informationen: more details on the research project on the RWTH Aachen University website
 
Sources:

• skz.de (Nov. 28, 2023)
• Graphic: © RWTH Aachen ANTS