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Collecting and recycling of flat glass -a step forward to a Circular Economy
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What is flat glass ?
• Flat glass is an umbrella term for the types of glass used in residential and utility buildings (such as windows, doors, mirrors, etc.)
• Design and interior glass is also considered to be flat glass
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Why should flat glass be recycled
• Energy reductionThe use of recycled flat glass (glass cullet) in glass productions saves energy as it requires less energy to melt glass than raw materials
• CO2 reductionLess energy means also less CO2 emissions
• Less raw materialMore recycled glass means also less use of raw materials
• Endless recyclationGlass can be recycled endlessly
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The mission of Vlakglas Recycling Nederland
• To collect as much flat glass waste as possible
• To recycle the flat glass waste into new glass products, i.e. flat glass, packaging glass, insulating products (glasswool)
• To stimulate other industries and countries to set up a recycling system for their waste
• To reach a higher level of the sustainability of flat glass
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Impact of flat glass recycling on the environment
In 2017, Vlakglas Recycling Nederland collected 71,300tonnes of flat glass waste
This saves the equivalent of 8,270,800 kilos of CO2
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Start and set up of the VRN system in the Netherlands
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The start and setting up of the system of VRN
• Initiative of the Dutch flat glass industry
Includes flat glass producers, double glazing producers
and Dutch trading and glaziers companies (GBO)
• Meeting the EPR (Extendend Producer Responsibility)
• From February till December 2000: pilot with 30 companies in the North of the Netherlands
• Governmental support: a subsidy from the government
• Financial support: from the participating companies
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The start and setting up of the system of VRN
• Aim of pilot: collecting 1,500 tonnes flat glass waste
• Result of pilot: 1,793 tonnes flat glass waste collected
• VRN is officially founded in 2002
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Structure of Vlakglas Recycling Nederland (VRN)
2002: founding of Vlakglas Recycling Nederland, voluntary initiative of the Dutch Glass Industry
Reason: to meet the Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Foundation: Non-profit
Board: AGC, Saint Gobain, Pilkington, Scheuten, Independent Company (Chairperson)
Total employees : 4,8 fte
Office: Zoetermeer, the Netherlands
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Financing
• Recycling levy is € 0,40 (was € 0,50) for every m2 of insulated glass produced in or imported into the Netherlands
• Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment declared that the agreement on the recycling fee is legally binding
• Parties that signed agreement on recycling fee (incl. GBO members) represent 80% of the Dutch flat glass market
• Around 281 participants
• A few foreign manufacturers (11) who pay the levy as a gesture to and on behalf of their customers
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Financing:
• Recycling levy is collected by independent firm of accountants. Companies have to give a declaration every quarter.
• Confidentiality. So only the accountants know the production figures of the companies.
• Random checks at ten companies conducted every year by our accountant to check if they have paid the levy.
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Financing:
• Legal enforcement by VRN. We regularly investigate if every company is paying the levy.
• Through listing in the Chamber of Commerce,
• Checking websites of companies, etc.
• Yearly we compare the total of the declarations with the national figures of the flat glass market.
• 99% of the ley is paid.
• If a company refuses to pay the levy, we will go to court.
All these actions to ensure a level playing field.
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Financing:
• The value of the glass is too low to cover the costs of collecting the glass.
• Therefore a levy is raised
• Levy is only on double glazing, but the collecting is of every type of flat glass
• Level playing field throughout the country: every collecting point has the same costs, as we use the fee to pay for the cost of container rent, transport and recycling.
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Overview of the recycling fee
• Total m2 of double and triple glazing that is produced in and imported to the Netherlands
Year Total m2
2010 4,964,020
2011 5,078,181
2012 4,527,722
2013 4,332,463
2014 4,190,810
2015 4,462,090
2016 4,418,155
2017 4,800,000
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Current collection results and activities
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Structure of the VRN• Network of collection points
– Located at/near: sheet-glass manufacturers, sheet-glass processing companies, sheet-glass wholesalers, municipal waste disposal points, container firms. Maximum distance 15 km
– Free disposal of sheet-glass waste
– Collection points have no costs
• Rental locations at companies– For their own use - monthly fee is payable
• Temporary temporary locations per year- At demolition or renovation sites - a monthly fee is payable
• Waste parks
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Total collected
2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Total 71,300 72,288 69,998 69,456 74,796 85,596 89,151
Collection results (tonnes)Period of collection 2011-2017
Collection structure in 2016
Public collection point 414
Rental location 347
Temporary locations(demolition and renovation sites)
614
Collection point at waste parks 204
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Types of collected glass
• Combination glass: Wired, mirror, laminated, coloured, greenhouse, fire resistant, safety glass, etc.
Clear Float glass 3.685
Laminated glass 7.077
Combination Glass 60.477
Rejected glass 61
Total 71.300
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Types of glass: combination glass
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Types of glass: domestic/renovation glass
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Types of glass: clear float glass
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70,000 tonnes of flat glass corresponds to 25,000m³. Compared to official 25m swimming pools (of each 2,500m³) this gives a total of 10 swimming pools!
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Recycling and re-use of flat glass waste
Destination of the flat glass waste
Average result 2014-2016, re-used in:
• Flat glass industry 8%
• Insulation products 15%
• Packaging industry 74%• Others 3%
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Estimate total flat glass waste market in the Netherlands
• Estimate of the total flat glass waste market in the Netherlands is +/- 105,000 tonnes per year
• VRN collects 68% of this total
• From this total 10,000 tonnes lost in demolition
• 15,000 direct from producer to recycler and niche markets
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Collection and recycling of flat glass from C&D projects
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Legal enforcement
• Each year estimative 10,000 tonnes flat glass waste is not collected from demolition projects (figures 2011)
• In 2014: change of the Dutch Building Decree
Article 4.1: flat glass with or without window frame is
now also mentioned on the list of waste streams that
have to be separately collected at demolition sites, to be
recycled afterwards
• No good law enforcement / control yet available
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Legal enforcement
Euralcodes: 3 types of flat glass waste
• Production waste glass 101112
=> not by-products, not end of life waste
• C&D waste glass 170202
=> mainly from renovation and demolition
• Domestic/Household waste glass 200102
=> small pieces of glass, like mirror, picture frames, glass from refrigerator
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Legal enforcement
National waste regulations (‘LAP3’). Describes for a lot of waste how it should be treated
- Sector 38: Production and C&D waste. VRN is mentioned as the organising company.
Environmental law
- Obligation for the municipality to collect household waste glass.
General administrative order to pay the levy. Compare this with a tax.
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Collection facilities – also available at C&D sites
Dimensions: 6 x 2 x 1.10 mHeight is appropriate for safe disposal
of glass
Closed container: safe for the surrounding area and reduces the chance of contamination
Volume 0.5; 1 and 2m3
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Reducing CO2 with organised logistic system
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CO2- reduction through recycling and re-use of waste flat glass
• VRN received the Lean and green Award and the Lean and Green 2nd Star award: > 20% CO2-reduction through the transport of flat glass waste
• In 2017 VRN transported +/- 42,000 tonnes by vessel
• Two locations in the Netherlands from where flat glass waste is shipped by vessels to recycle companies in Belgium
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Project Life Flat to Flat
• VRN participate together with Maltha Glasrecycling as a partner in “Life Flat to Flat” a project of AGC Glass Europe. This project has received a Life+ subsidy from the European Union
• Project aim: develop and validate an innovative method for
re-cycling and up-cycling of flat glass
• Expected results:
12% CO2 reduction
5% energy saving
25% less use of raw materials
• More info on www.agc-flattoflat.eu
FLAT TO FLAT - LIFE12/ENV/BE/000214
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Communication channels
• Newsletter
• Flyer
• Website
• Annual report
• Participation at trade fairs
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Thank you for listening
Any questions?
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