5. Conclusions and outlook

Thermoplastics recycling has undergone profound changes in recent years. From an embryonic state in the late 1980s, it has become the source of a veritable industry, with modern facilities capable of processing several thousand tonnes each. Technologies are changing rapidly, both in terms of sorting techniques and waste treatment techniques. Research and development carried out by major industrial groups point to the emergence of new technologies in the years to come that will increase plant efficiency and the quality of recycled materials and products.

This development is closely linked to the introduction of new, increasingly stringent legislation at national and European level. The major plastics-using sectors will all be affected by this legislation in the next few years, and some professional organizations have already started thinking about how to anticipate...