The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) – Europe has published its latest case study, “Unlocking Recycling Potential: Automated Sorting Trials of Medical Plastic Waste.”
Building on insights from the first pilot in the Netherlands, which demonstrated the technical feasibility of manual sorting, this second-phase study tested automated sorting technologies under real-world conditions in Germany. Conducted in collaboration with Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB) and TOMRA, the trial assessed whether industrial-scale systems can reliably sort healthcare plastic packaging waste with the accuracy and throughput needed for sustainable recycling.
Key Findings:
- Waste Stream Quality Matters: Clean, well-segregated packaging can be efficiently sorted, but contamination risks remain a critical challenge.
- Automated Sorting Efficiency: 45% of rigid plastics were recovered into PP, PE, and PET streams; flexible packaging was sorted into PE, though multi-material films pose contamination risks.
- Improved Separation Strategies: Point-of-use sorting and AI-based object recognition could enhance outcomes, supported by trained staff and proper hospital systems.
- Design for Recyclability: Following HPRC’s Design Guidance improves sorting efficiency and waste value, creating potential revenue streams for hospitals.
Why It Matters:
Healthcare plastics represent a significant recycling opportunity, but scaling solutions requires collaboration across the value chain. This study provides evidence-based best practices for collection, logistics, and processing, bridging the gap between theoretical feasibility and practical implementation.
Project Partners:
HPRC coordinated the initiative with support from CIRCULARMED, UKB, TOMRA, and HPRC members DuPont, LyondellBasell, Baxter, and Nelipak.
