This pilot project, as part of the realCYCLE project enabled by the Migros Pioneer Fund, is being designed and implemented jointly with stakeholders in the plastics value chain. The overarching theme of realCYCLE is to understand and align the entire value chain of plastic packaging as a closed loop. The systemic requirements and framework conditions for scalability are being investigated, and concrete opportunities are being identified to enable a comprehensive and sustainable plastics circular economy in Switzerland.
Key questions
The guiding question of the project is: Are innovative logistics concepts the key to a sustainable circular economy for plastic bottles?
Various questions arise along with this question:
- Does the use of reverse logistics by the postal service lead to an ecologically and economically sustainable collection of plastic bottles?
- Can the return of plastic bottles be significantly increased through innovative logistics concepts compared to today's collection at the retailer?
- How can rural areas be connected to national disposal networks?
- What collection rates can be achieved through a collection service (from households) and what does the population think about it?
- To which regions of Switzerland could the logistics model tested here be extended? What ecological and economic consequences would this have at a national level?
Objective of the pilot project
A sustainable plastics circular economy requires high collection rates of recyclable fractions. In this pilot project, innovative logistics solutions in the field of plastics recycling are being tested and their scalability is being examined.
While plastic bottles can already be returned across the board in the retail sector, the collection rate is low. In rural and remote, even very small communities, these collection channels are also underutilized because the logistics are very complex and therefore inconvenient for consumers. The aim is therefore to test whether customer-friendly collection systems can increase the collection volumes and whether the collection leads to an ecological benefit compared to today's reference scenario. In addition, the pilot project is examining whether the existing logistics of the postal service can be used for the "last mile", i.e. the reverse logistics from the consumer to a larger collection center, and whether this can create meaningful synergies.
As part of the "Innovative Logistics" pilot project, we are focusing on selective plastic collection. On the one hand, this collection stream can be processed in Switzerland, and on the other hand, the recyclability is much better researched and the ecological benefits have already been proven. The risk of generating a qualitatively poor recyclate due to the diversity is also significantly lower. The plastic bottles are also collected via retailers, but the collection rates are (still) relatively low. It is open whether beverage cartons should also be collected in addition to plastic bottles.
What we are currently working on
We are currently working on setting up reverse logistics for the "Recycling Bag" from the municipalities. In particular, the use of synergy logistics is being investigated with the aim of generating as little environmental impact as possible through transport.
Pilot Phase 1 in Reinach BL
The first pilot phase is starting in Reinach BL, supplemented by a population survey. The Reinach pilot project was initiated by a motion of the local council.
The implementation of the first pilot project in Reinach BL started on June 3rd. Since then, postmen and women on their rounds have not only been delivering letters, but also collecting the recycling bag. The recycling bag filled with plastic bottles and beverage cartons can be placed directly at the letterbox, from where it is collected by the postman or postwoman on the delivery round. The collected bags are then transported via internal postal logistics and thus without additional journeys to Frauenfeld and collected there by the local company Müller Recycling AG for processing in its own sorting plant. This innovative logistics in synergy is working smoothly so far: all journeys have been able to take place in synergy so far. This means that no additional transport has been required for collection from households.
An initial evaluation will be carried out in spring 2022. The project has been extended by the local council and will now run until May 2022.
Quality control and sorting analysis
An initial quality control and detailed sorting analysis at Müller Recycling AG in October 2021 revealed that the proportion of the target fraction (plastic bottles and beverage cartons) is at a pleasing 70%.
Survey of the population of Reinach
In order to evaluate the pilot project, the perception of the population and their experiences are also very important to us. Therefore, a survey is currently underway, in which the population in Reinach BL is asked for feedback and suggestions for improvement on the pilot project.