Pilot 3 / Value Chain 1: Waste Management and Recycling
Plastic waste management in the North Black Forest region is carried out by private companies and municipalities, focusing on collection, sorting and material recovery. However, non-recyclable waste is still often landfilled or incinerated.
The sector also faces inconsistent waste quality, limited real-time data, logistical inefficiencies, dependency on external suppliers and limited recycling infrastructure.
The North Black Forest pilot examines how plastic collection, sorting, recycling and manufacturing can be connected into a more circular regional value chain. One application is the production of yellow collection bags using recycled plastic. The existing supply route uses recycled material sourced from factories and warehouses, while the pilot explores a loop in which used household collection bags can contribute material to new bags.
The value chain includes collection, separation, cleaning, shredding, recycling, compounding and quality control before the recycled material is converted into a new product. These steps need to be coordinated because the properties of the collected waste influence the quality and processing suitability of the secondary material. The proposed household-bag loop therefore requires assessment of both waste-stream characteristics and manufacturing requirements.
Regional work involves the INNONET network and industrial actors including REMONDIS and Infinex. Existing collection infrastructure provides the regional context, with different arrangements for bags, bins, recycling centres and commercial waste. Workshops, process mapping and data collection support the identification of feasible links between actors. The pilot is developing and validating these circular configurations, with data availability and processing compatibility remaining important implementation considerations.
Assessment follows the material pathway from collection and sorting to preparation, recycling and bag production. The existing use of externally sourced recyclate is distinguished from the proposed return of household collection bags into new products. Material quantities, quality requirements, processing compatibility and reject streams are relevant to evaluating this loop. Process mapping and exchanges with participating companies support the definition and collection of the required operational information.
The existing waste-management system comprises collection, sorting, preparation and recovery of plastic streams from households, commercial actors and industry. Material composition, contamination and the consistency of the recovered feedstock affect the quality available for subsequent production. Challenges include energy and operating costs, volatile secondary-material markets, incomplete information on waste quality and quantities, and inconsistent data exchange between actors. CSSBoost examines a more integrated loop connecting plastic recovery with the production and regional use of collection bags.
The REMONDIS collection-bag chain provides the setting for developing a closer recycling loop. Work is assembling the material and operational information needed for modelling and digital integration.
The existing system already uses externally sourced recyclate. Assessment of the new loop will use this baseline and the pilot’s actual material and operating data.