The Plastics Technology Center, AIMPLAS, is once again the European epicenter of the debate on plastics recycling with the celebration of the third edition of PLASREC. During the 10th and 11th of December, about 150 professionals will meet in Valencia to share experiences, technological solutions and legislative perspectives focused on the circular economy.
Artificial intelligence and sorting in plastics recycling
To open the meeting, the impact of geopolitics on waste management will be addressed, as well as regulatory changes affecting the recyclability and recycled content of packaging. Representatives from organizations such as FER, Anarpla, ANAIP and Plastics Europe will be responsible for putting the European and global regulatory scenario into context.
The first day will also include sessions on advanced waste collection and sorting. Experts from SOLVER IA, PICVISA and COLEO will present their technological perspectives that apply machine vision and artificial intelligence to improve process efficiency. These tools are shown to advance the valorization of complex waste such as those from footwear or synthetic textiles.
During the afternoon, the focus will shift to mechanical recycling. In this way,
In parallel to the seminar, the first Hackathon PlastiGO promoted by the AIMPLAS-UV Chair will take place. Many students from multiple disciplines will compete proposing ideas to optimize recycling, promoting knowledge transfer between academia and industry.
The second day will focus on the most difficult-to-treat plastic waste. The organizations GSF, Entzimatiko and Plastic Energy will be presenting advances in pyrolysis depolymerization and chemical recycling. The technologies aim to convert non-recyclable waste into new valuable products, moving towards a more sustainable plastics industry.
On the other hand, Messer, PROMAK and Kubota Brabender will point out industrial solutions such as the use of liquid nitrogen, twin-screw extrusion and dosing techniques adapted to heterogeneous plastics. UBE will show concrete examples of successful recycling of PE/PA materials, closing the technical session.
The closing session will address sectorial commitments in recycling, such as Texfor, Sostenplas, Antolin Engineering and AEMAC, where they will discuss circularity in sectors such as textiles, electronics, automotive and wind energy, debunking myths and proposing viable routes for the recovery of materials.
PLASREC will also include workshops on the FREE4LIB and CÍCLICOM projects, strengthening the exchange of applied knowledge. The event will offer networking areas, exhibitors and scientific posters, along with a visit to AIMPLAS facilities.
Finally, AIMPLAS has received a Circular Pass issued by the Revivack platform, which guarantees the traceability and recovery of materials used during the event, including merchandising and graphic supports. Thus, it ensures a real reduction of its environmental footprint, reaffirming its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source and photo: AIMPLAS