A Historical-Technical Analysis of Packaging Waste Flows in Vienna

18 Pages Posted: 30 Sep 2022

See all articles by Jakob Lederer

Jakob Lederer

Vienna University of Technology

Lea Gritsch

Vienna University of Technology

Abstract

Urban waste management is important to achieve a circular economy for packaging-waste. To assess the contribution of different measures to these targets, a time-series of packaging-waste flows is required. This study presents such a time-series for the time-span 2006-2020, using material flow analysis and Vienna as a case study. To assess the measures, separate-collection and sorting rate were calculated. Results showed increasing volumes of paper, glass, and aluminum, but decreasing volumes of ferrous metals and plastic generated. Increasing separate collection rates were achieved for aluminum and plastic packaging-waste by commingled collection and more drop-off points. No increase was found for glass and paper packaging. Since particularly for the latter the separate collection can hardly be extended, automatic waste sorting can be used in addition to separate collection to achieve higher sorting and recycling rates. Already successfully practiced for metals, it can be extended to glass, paper, and plastics as well.

Keywords: Circular economy, material flow analysis, glass, metal, paper, plastic

Suggested Citation

Lederer, Jakob and Gritsch, Lea, A Historical-Technical Analysis of Packaging Waste Flows in Vienna. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4234208 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4234208

Jakob Lederer (Contact Author)

Vienna University of Technology ( email )

Karlsplatz 13
Vienna
Austria

Lea Gritsch

Vienna University of Technology ( email )

Wien
Austria

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