Abstract

The World Bank Report predicts that municipal solid waste generation will grow from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, with plastic waste comprising over 10% of total waste1. Packaging is a significant contributor. Flexibles and rigid plastic packaging represent 44% of the total packaging market, yet their recycling rates are significantly lower than paper/cardboard, metal, and glass. A key barrier to effective recycling is consumer uncertainty, as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that 60% of consumers are unsure how to recycle plastics, and it is estimated 86% of plastics are incinerated, leak into the environment, or end up in a landfill2. If not collected and managed properly, plastic waste will contaminate and affect waterways and ecosystems. It is important to ensure advanced sorting of mixed plastic waste into high-quality mono-waste fractions for further reuse. However, the large variety of plastics used, the varying lifespan of different products and technical challenges in the identification and separation of plastics create difficulties in tracking plastic flows, making plastic waste recycling a challenging task. Innovative solutions are being developed to tackle the complexities of plastic waste sorting. Advanced technologies such as enhanced near-infrared (NIR) sorting can identify and separate various polymer types, improving recycling efficiency. Digital watermarks, which are small (a postage stamp size), unnoticeable codes printed on packaging, offer another promising solution. Furthermore, AI-driven waste sorting systems integrate computer vision, machine learning, and robotics to optimize the sorting of plastic waste. This paper will explore these innovative sorting technologies - enhanced optical sorting, digital watermarks, and AI-based waste management - highlighting their potential to transform plastic waste management and contribute to a more sustainable future.