Analysis and quantification of plastics in European residual waste

Mission objectives

To develop a reliable methodology for measuring the quantity and composition of plastics present in the residual fraction of municipal waste across several Member States of the European Union.

Achievements and impact

• Design and testing of a robust and reproducible sampling and analysis methodology.
• Sampling campaigns carried out in several EU Member States.
• Production of a harmonised and comparable dataset on the presence, flows and composition of plastics in European residual waste.
• Identification and quantification of the main plastic polymers and their respective shares.
• Comparative analysis of results across countries and regions, set against their waste management practices.