Abstract:

Transition towards the circular economy, a core priority of the EU 2020 Strategy, is particularly relevant for central European industrial areas due to the outstanding use of primary natural resources in various production stages: processing, packaging and transportation. The aim of CIRCE 2020 project is the realization of a set of pilot actions based on the results of local surveys in order to identify the unevaluated waste streams using innovative instruments derived from the MFA, LCC and LCA analysis. The purpose if this paper is to present the results of the LCC analysis of two case studies of Polish companies from the recycling industry. Each case study contains two solutions – BaU (Business As Usual) and CE (Circular Economy). LCC analysis in the first case study covers multi-layered plastic. Current treatment of multipolymer waste is landfilling (BaU). In the CE solution multipolymer waste become the input to the conversion process, include regrinding, shredding, mixing and thermic processing. As an output polymer board is generated, that may be treated as a finished product. LCC analysis in the second case study covers highly contaminated or heavily printed plastic (mostly packings - foils) that cannot be recycled in the traditional way. Current treatment of unpure waste is landfilling (BaU). In the CE solution plastic waste become the input to the extrusion process, which allows to use a different combination of plastic waste. As an output the terrace board is generated. The overall conclusion indicates the efficiency of using the circular economy solution. The LCA analysis showed environmental effectiveness in both case studies, the LCC analysis showed the economic effectiveness of the first case study. The LCC results come from the author's own calculations as LCC expert in the CIRCE 2020 project in Poland.