Innovative Sorting Technologies Can Revolutionise PVC Cable Recycling

PVC cables have long been recognised for their suitability for mechanical recycling. Since 2000, over 1.7 million tonnes of PVC cables have been recycled through VinylPlus. However, the presence of legacy additives such as lead and DEHP, along with certain problematic substances like medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), presents ongoing challenges for achieving higher recycling rates and ensuring regulatory compliance.

At the 4th PVC4Cables Conference, advancements in sorting technologies were showcased, providing new solutions for addressing these challenges.

ADVANCED PILOT PLANT IN DEVELOPMENT

Alessio Boscolo, Researcher at Phoenix RTO, presented an upcoming pilot plant in Italy designed to revolutionise the sorting of post-consumer PVC cable waste. The plant will utilise X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and near-infrared (NIR) technologies to accurately detect and separate materials, enabling the efficient recovery of high-purity recycled PVC (rPVC).

• XRF technology: By emitting high-energy X-rays that excite the material and produce fluorescent emissions, XRF provides precise, non-destructive detection of heavy metals like lead, even in PVC granulates smaller than 10 mm.
• NIR scanners: These devices complement XRF by identifying different polymers based on their unique spectral fingerprints, streamlining the sorting of mixed plastic waste streams.

The ability to isolate legacy additives and other substances of concern ensures that recovered PVC meets high-quality standards for reuse in new applications.

BUILDING ON PROVEN SUCCESS

This pilot plant represents the next phase of a successful development journey that began with a handheld XRF scanner, which has already been applied to identify legacy additives in medical devices as part of the VinylPlus Med recycling scheme in Belgium. By scaling up this technology for industrial applications, the new facility aims to deliver:

• Reliable detection of legacy substances and contaminants.
• High-throughput sorting capabilities for post-consumer PVC cable waste.
• Compliance with operator safety and health & environmental standards under REACH.

A STEP TOWARDS A CIRCULAR FUTURE

By integrating these innovative sorting technologies, the pilot plant is poised to overcome significant barriers in PVC cable recycling. This initiative demonstrates how industry stakeholders can collaborate to advance circular economy goals while addressing the challenges of legacy additives and evolving regulatory requirements.

PVC4Cables is proud to support these cutting-edge developments, which are essential for the sustainable transformation of the cable sector.

For a deeper dive into the details of this groundbreaking research, you can read Alessio Boscolo’s paper presented at PVC 2024 in Edinburgh, UK.

A slide version of the paper was also presented at the 4th PVC4Cables Conference. Watch the video interview below to learn more: