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FOREWORD
History may view plastics as one of the most important technical developments of the 20th century.
Plastics have opened the way for new inventions and have replaced other materials in existing products.
They are light, durable and versatile, as well as resistant to moisture, chemicals and decay.
Yet these properties can also bring challenges to waste managers in local and regional authorities.
Worldwide, policies are being introduced that demand recycling, diversion from landfill of untreated wastes
and greater levels of resource conservation. This is being achieved through the development of local,
national and international strategies, new regulations setting targets and economic, market-based
instruments and taxes, and new technologies to collect, sort, treat and recycle waste plastics.
It is clear that the use of plastics reduces the mass of materials needed in many applications and many
sectors. However, the more numerous, specialised, engineered and differentiated become plastics materials,
the more difficult will be their recovery especially by material recycling which must be a first choice after
reuse and prevention.
The ACRR has been created for the purpose of providing support to L/RAs. Of course, this Guide does not
pretend to be exhaustive, but we hope it will provide the reader with practical insights, experiences and
guidelines for the proper management of waste plastics.
This guide is also an exercise of partnership between ACRR and the European Plastics Industry Federations.
Jean-Pierre Hannequart
President of the Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling