Collecting and recycling of flat glass - a step forward to ...€¦ · melt glass than raw materials ... 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Total 71,300 72,288 69,998 69,456 74,796

www.vlakglasrecycling.nl

Collecting and recycling of flat glass -a step forward to a Circular Economy


What is flat glass ?

• Flat glass is an umbrella term for the types of glass used in residential and utility buildings (such as windows, doors, mirrors, etc.)

• Design and interior glass is also considered to be flat glass


Why should flat glass be recycled

• Energy reductionThe use of recycled flat glass (glass cullet) in glass productions saves energy as it requires less energy to melt glass than raw materials

• CO2 reductionLess energy means also less CO2 emissions

• Less raw materialMore recycled glass means also less use of raw materials

• Endless recyclationGlass can be recycled endlessly


The mission of Vlakglas Recycling Nederland

• To collect as much flat glass waste as possible

• To recycle the flat glass waste into new glass products, i.e. flat glass, packaging glass, insulating products (glasswool)

• To stimulate other industries and countries to set up a recycling system for their waste

• To reach a higher level of the sustainability of flat glass


Impact of flat glass recycling on the environment

In 2017, Vlakglas Recycling Nederland collected 71,300tonnes of flat glass waste

This saves the equivalent of 8,270,800 kilos of CO2


Start and set up of the VRN system in the Netherlands

http://www.vlakglasrecycling.nl/index.php



The start and setting up of the system of VRN

• Initiative of the Dutch flat glass industry

Includes flat glass producers, double glazing producers

and Dutch trading and glaziers companies (GBO)

• Meeting the EPR (Extendend Producer Responsibility)

• From February till December 2000: pilot with 30 companies in the North of the Netherlands

• Governmental support: a subsidy from the government

• Financial support: from the participating companies


The start and setting up of the system of VRN

• Aim of pilot: collecting 1,500 tonnes flat glass waste

• Result of pilot: 1,793 tonnes flat glass waste collected

• VRN is officially founded in 2002




Structure of Vlakglas Recycling Nederland (VRN)

2002: founding of Vlakglas Recycling Nederland, voluntary initiative of the Dutch Glass Industry

Reason: to meet the Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Foundation: Non-profit

Board: AGC, Saint Gobain, Pilkington, Scheuten, Independent Company (Chairperson)

Total employees : 4,8 fte

Office: Zoetermeer, the Netherlands


Financing

• Recycling levy is € 0,40 (was € 0,50) for every m2 of insulated glass produced in or imported into the Netherlands

• Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment declared that the agreement on the recycling fee is legally binding

• Parties that signed agreement on recycling fee (incl. GBO members) represent 80% of the Dutch flat glass market

• Around 281 participants

• A few foreign manufacturers (11) who pay the levy as a gesture to and on behalf of their customers


Financing:

• Recycling levy is collected by independent firm of accountants. Companies have to give a declaration every quarter.

• Confidentiality. So only the accountants know the production figures of the companies.

• Random checks at ten companies conducted every year by our accountant to check if they have paid the levy.


Financing:

• Legal enforcement by VRN. We regularly investigate if every company is paying the levy.

• Through listing in the Chamber of Commerce,

• Checking websites of companies, etc.

• Yearly we compare the total of the declarations with the national figures of the flat glass market.

• 99% of the ley is paid.

• If a company refuses to pay the levy, we will go to court.

All these actions to ensure a level playing field.


Financing:

• The value of the glass is too low to cover the costs of collecting the glass.

• Therefore a levy is raised

• Levy is only on double glazing, but the collecting is of every type of flat glass

• Level playing field throughout the country: every collecting point has the same costs, as we use the fee to pay for the cost of container rent, transport and recycling.


Overview of the recycling fee

• Total m2 of double and triple glazing that is produced in and imported to the Netherlands

Year Total m2

2010 4,964,020

2011 5,078,181

2012 4,527,722

2013 4,332,463

2014 4,190,810

2015 4,462,090

2016 4,418,155

2017 4,800,000


Current collection results and activities




Structure of the VRN• Network of collection points

– Located at/near: sheet-glass manufacturers, sheet-glass processing companies, sheet-glass wholesalers, municipal waste disposal points, container firms. Maximum distance 15 km

– Free disposal of sheet-glass waste

– Collection points have no costs

• Rental locations at companies– For their own use - monthly fee is payable

• Temporary temporary locations per year- At demolition or renovation sites - a monthly fee is payable

• Waste parks


Total collected

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Total 71,300 72,288 69,998 69,456 74,796 85,596 89,151

Collection results (tonnes)Period of collection 2011-2017

Collection structure in 2016

Public collection point 414

Rental location 347

Temporary locations(demolition and renovation sites)

614

Collection point at waste parks 204


Types of collected glass

• Combination glass: Wired, mirror, laminated, coloured, greenhouse, fire resistant, safety glass, etc.

Clear Float glass 3.685

Laminated glass 7.077

Combination Glass 60.477

Rejected glass 61

Total 71.300


Types of glass: combination glass


Types of glass: domestic/renovation glass


Types of glass: clear float glass


70,000 tonnes of flat glass corresponds to 25,000m³. Compared to official 25m swimming pools (of each 2,500m³) this gives a total of 10 swimming pools!


Recycling and re-use of flat glass waste

Destination of the flat glass waste

Average result 2014-2016, re-used in:

• Flat glass industry 8%

• Insulation products 15%

• Packaging industry 74%• Others 3%


Estimate total flat glass waste market in the Netherlands

• Estimate of the total flat glass waste market in the Netherlands is +/- 105,000 tonnes per year

• VRN collects 68% of this total

• From this total 10,000 tonnes lost in demolition

• 15,000 direct from producer to recycler and niche markets


Collection and recycling of flat glass from C&D projects


Legal enforcement

• Each year estimative 10,000 tonnes flat glass waste is not collected from demolition projects (figures 2011)

• In 2014: change of the Dutch Building Decree

Article 4.1: flat glass with or without window frame is

now also mentioned on the list of waste streams that

have to be separately collected at demolition sites, to be

recycled afterwards

• No good law enforcement / control yet available


Legal enforcement

Euralcodes: 3 types of flat glass waste

• Production waste glass 101112

=> not by-products, not end of life waste

• C&D waste glass 170202

=> mainly from renovation and demolition

• Domestic/Household waste glass 200102

=> small pieces of glass, like mirror, picture frames, glass from refrigerator


Legal enforcement

National waste regulations (‘LAP3’). Describes for a lot of waste how it should be treated

- Sector 38: Production and C&D waste. VRN is mentioned as the organising company.

Environmental law

- Obligation for the municipality to collect household waste glass.

General administrative order to pay the levy. Compare this with a tax.


Collection facilities – also available at C&D sites

Dimensions: 6 x 2 x 1.10 mHeight is appropriate for safe disposal

of glass

Closed container: safe for the surrounding area and reduces the chance of contamination

Volume 0.5; 1 and 2m3


Reducing CO2 with organised logistic system


CO2- reduction through recycling and re-use of waste flat glass

• VRN received the Lean and green Award and the Lean and Green 2nd Star award: > 20% CO2-reduction through the transport of flat glass waste

• In 2017 VRN transported +/- 42,000 tonnes by vessel

• Two locations in the Netherlands from where flat glass waste is shipped by vessels to recycle companies in Belgium


Project Life Flat to Flat

• VRN participate together with Maltha Glasrecycling as a partner in “Life Flat to Flat” a project of AGC Glass Europe. This project has received a Life+ subsidy from the European Union

• Project aim: develop and validate an innovative method for

re-cycling and up-cycling of flat glass

• Expected results:

12% CO2 reduction

5% energy saving

25% less use of raw materials

• More info on www.agc-flattoflat.eu

FLAT TO FLAT - LIFE12/ENV/BE/000214


Communication channels

• Newsletter

• Flyer

• Website

• Annual report

• Participation at trade fairs


Thank you for listening

Any questions?

Documents

Collecting and recycling of flat glass - a step forward to ...€¦ · melt glass than raw materials ... 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Total 71,300 72,288 69,998 69,456 74,796