Plastics and PVC in non-separated household waste in the Netherlands, 1985-2001
Developments relating to plastics in non-separated household waste
The amount of non-separated household waste is levelling off. The amount of plastic in non-separated waste has increased much more sharply since 1985 than the amount of non-separated household waste itself. The amount of PVC would appear to have stayed at the same level in recent years.
The proportion of PVC packaging in the non-separated household waste has also been measured since 1998. For a very small component like PVC, the results are relatively imprecise. The values measured are: 1998: 0.25%, 1999: 0.18%, 2000: 0.34 and 2001: 0.28%. The proportion of PVC packaging in total PVC varies from 22 to 48%.
Policy objective
The policy objective is to reduce the quantity of PVC requiring incineration (VROM, 1997).
Technical note
Because of the broad spread in the figures, the quantity of PVC is shown in the illustration as a three-year progressive average. This is the quantity of PVC found in the separated synthetics. Other products and materials found in household waste (such as shoes, boots and carpet remnants) may also contain PVC but the amount of PVC in these products is not known.
References
- CBS (2002). Statline. Gemeentelijke afvalstoffen; hoeveelheden. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
- RIVM (2002). Onderzoek naar de fysische samenstelling van het Nederlandse huishoudelijke afval in 2000 en 2001, RIVM, Bilthoven.
- VROM (1997). Brief van de minister van VROM aan de Tweede Kamer van 31 oktober 1997. Dutch Lower House, 1997-1998, 25723, no. 1, The Hague.
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More data about the generation of municipal waste can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).
