Research

The aim of the project is to develop a legally compliant and practically applicable methodology for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the proportion of contaminants in mixed waste paper, in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the EN 643 standard for grades 1–4. The methodology is to be based on a combination of optical and manual analysis methods following representative sampling of mixed waste paper by grade purity, whether in bulk or in bales, and must be feasible using simple operational resources. Based on statistical variance and sampling approaches, sampling and analysis strategies, evaluation parameters and testing intervals are defined, building on existing industry standards, specifications and legal frameworks (e.g. existing national end-of-waste regulations for other types of waste). Sampling and analysis strategies must be tailored to specific use cases and accuracy requirements in order to optimise the analytical effort and (informational) benefit. The project objectives include (1) the development of a standardised procedure for determining contaminants, (2) the development of an analytical concept, (3) the derivation of statistically sound sampling frequencies, and (4) validation under real operating conditions. The methodology is based on (1) an analysis of the literature, standards (EN 643, sorting standards) and legal requirements (for comparable waste types under waste disposal regulations), (2) the development of a variance-based sampling design, (3) the combination of manual sorting analysis with optical aids, (4) field tests in model facilities, and (4) the comparison of the results with standard limit values.

The results of an existing model for estimating a cost-sharing formula in relation to the joint collection of packaging as a proportion of the goods originally collected are no longer valid without reservation, as the paper & board packaging proportions have since risen very significantly, partly due to the growth in online retail and a decline in the NVP-PPK proportions. The existing model, including its parameters, must therefore be evaluated and calibrated using real-world data in order to recalculate the cost-sharing formula. The aim of the project is to validate and calibrate the model parameters in order to (1) determine the cost share of packaging collection within paper and board collection for different mass proportions under real-world (i.e. not merely model-based) conditions and options for route planning and optimisation (e.g. collection intervals), and furthermore (2) to optimise route planning for paper and board collection. As a fundamental principle of the methodology, collection rounds are to be monitored and assessed using sorting analyses and compaction tests, for which – based on the socio-economic structure – a particularly low or high proportion of packaging, in the range of 25 to 45 per cent by mass, can be expected. Monitoring the collection rounds essentially involves documenting route and travel times (GPS-assisted) and recording container volume, number and fill level. Sorting analyses involve a representative sample of containers, which are removed shortly before the respective collection round using a transfer procedure and subsequently analysed by manual sorting into a few relevant fractions.

Food production requires a significant amount of resources and energy, which leads to the release of emissions, particularly greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the form of methane and nitrous oxide from livestock farming and the use of fertilisers. These emissions are wasted if the food is not consumed but is instead thrown away. It is clear that reducing food waste can lower emissions and thus help protect our environment. As part of the ‘Lebensmittel-Drehscheibe Kostbar Markt’ platform, food from agriculture and production is to be channelled to charitable organisations, thereby helping to prevent food waste. It is essential to highlight the environmental benefits generated by utilising food from agriculture that would otherwise have been disposed of. The reporting should reflect not only the quantities distributed but also the resulting CO₂ impact. The aim of this project is therefore to provide a database that enables the conversion of the avoided waste quantities into greenhouse gas emissions saved.