Mastering the art of Sorting: the results of 4evergreen’s snapshot challenge.

Before the summer, we asked our members to send us pictures of the recycling bins they encountered during their travels to assess if countries have a harmonised sorting method or if many differences still exist.

Guidance on the Improved Collection and Sorting of Fibre-Based Packaging for Recycling

Collection and sorting have always been crucial topics in 4evergreen’s work. One of its three deliverables is the Guidance on the Improved Collection and Sorting, for which version 3 is expected in November 2024.

This tool emphasizes the significance of accurate sorting. When fibre-based packaging is sorted correctly, it can be transformed into new products, thereby decreasing the reliance on virgin materials and fostering a circular economy. Conversely, improper sorting can result in contamination, rendering the materials non-recyclable and leading them to end up in landfills.

Different European countries have implemented innovative sorting systems for fibre-based packaging. These systems often involve manual and automated processes to ensure high accuracy. For instance, in Germany, the Duales System Deutschland mandates that households separate their waste into different bins, including one specifically for paper and fibre-based packaging. This system has proven highly effective, with recycling rates consistently above 70%.

The Snapshot Challenge

Looking at the empirical examples provided by our members, it is evident that, although bins are often divided into "paper," "plastic," "glass," and "generic waste," the colours are not harmonised between countries. Most countries have a blue paper bin, but in Greece, it is represented by the colour yellow. At the Helsinki airport, they separate paper from cardboard waste, highlighting them in blue and green.

As some of our members noted, this can lead to waste contamination, as people might be used to identifying paper as a different colour in their countries. However, most comments reported low to no contamination in the bins. For example, one of our members reported a significant presence of bins on the Portuguese beaches she visited, noticed that "the colour coding is harmonised across bins, regardless of size", and was happy to observe that "overall, the sorting looked consistent."

Another member noted clear labels and visuals in the Helsinki Airport, but he found an example of a bin that needs improvement in the above picture. Besides the need for better labelling, he stated, "The slot shape size implies that the user should fit flat items, while the other two big boxes might be more attractive than folding paper to match the size requirement."

Join our next webinar

If you wish to know more on the topic, join our next webinar on November 14, “Get Sorted: The Value Chain Approach to Recycled at Scale.” 4evergreen’s experts will present the point of view of the industry in collection and sorting, by analysing the different sorting plants as well as collection and sorting methods in several countries.

Registrations are now open here.