PlastIQ: New solution for optimizing plastics recycling
Many companies do not yet recycle plastic waste efficiently. The reason for this is usually a high collection effort and a lack of information about possible recipients. The newly developed demonstrator from the PlastIQ project offers a solution for efficiently evaluating waste and suggesting suitable recyclers. It is available online for testing.
The online demonstrator allows simple data entry for recyclable materials (left) and uses the data to recommend an optimal recycling route and suitable recyclers (right). (Quelle: SKZ/AdobeStock_110841731)
Successful research project: WeSort.AI and SKZ develop online demonstrator for optimized plastics recycling
As part of the three-year PlastIQ research project, the SKZ Plastics Center and the award-winning Würzburg start-up WeSort.AI have developed an innovative online demonstrator. The aim of the solution is to efficiently evaluate previously unrecorded plastic waste in companies and to network with recycling companies in a targeted manner - an important step towards a more circular economy and resource conservation.
Low recycling rate for commercial plastic waste
Industry and commerce generate considerable amounts of plastic waste - for example in the form of packaging or production residues. According to the Conversio study “Material flow picture for plastics in Germany 2023”, the recycling rate in the commercial sector was just under 40%. The majority of waste is still mainly recycled for energy.
Source: www.vci.de/ergaenzende-downloads/kurzfassung-stoffstrombild-2023.pdf
Solutions for non-optimized waste in the company
In the PlastIQ project, existing hurdles in the recycling of previously unrecycled plastic waste were systematically identified and addressed in a practical way in a digital demonstrator.
Using an intuitive user interface, companies can easily enter information and images of their previously unrecorded waste. The tool then analyzes the composition and possible impurities and automatically assesses whether the materials are suitable for mechanical recycling. In addition, the demonstrator identifies suitable recycling companies in the vicinity - tailored to the type of material and processing capacities. This allows companies to make direct contact and take specific steps to recycle their waste. An integrated ecological and economic assessment also shows the benefits of successful recycling for both the environment and the company itself.
"The PlastIQ tool makes it much easier for companies to get their plastic waste to the right recyclers. This not only has direct economic benefits, but also brings us one step closer to a functioning circular economy," says Nathanael Laier, co-founder and CEO of WeSort.AI.
The online demonstrator is freely accessible at plastiq.wesort.ai. Interested companies are welcome to test the tool in detail. The project partners will be happy to answer any questions, provide feedback or suggestions for further development.
The PlastIQ research project (funding code DIK0316/01), carried out by WeSort.AI in cooperation with the SKZ, was funded by the Free State of Bavaria as part of the Bavarian Collaborative Research Programme in the “Digitalization” funding line. The project ran for three years and ended on December 31, 2024.
