The global production of plastic increased enormously between 1950 and 2018, leading to a significant rise in plastic waste, of which less than 30% is recycled. In Europe, the main disposal method is energy recovery through incineration, followed by recycling, while 25% of plastic waste ends up in landfills. In addition, more than half of the plastic collected for recycling is exported due to the lack of adequate facilities and resources.
Italy, and in particular Tuscany, is a European excellence in plastic recycling, thanks to organizations such as REVET. The European Green Deal aims to make all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030, banning single-use items for food and beverages in order to reduce waste by 19–46%.
There are several methods for plastic separation: hydrocyclones, triboelectric separation, and density-based separation, each with advantages and limitations in terms of efficiency and cost. Among the most advanced solutions are decanter centrifuges, capable of separating materials based on density, already used in several industrial sectors.
The RINASCITA project foresees the development of two new centrifuges for plastic recycling: a vertical one (CDV) for testing and optimization, and a horizontal one (CDO) with continuous flow, more advanced and scientifically relevant. The research includes the use of computational simulations (CFD) to optimize the process, reducing experimentation time and improving the industrial efficiency of plastic recycling.
