Sustainable valorisation pathways for OCC rejects

Overview

The sustainable valorisation of OCC (Old Corrugated Containers) rejects is a multi-faceted effort aimed at transforming waste into valuable materials. The work explores and evaluates technological pathways for integrating valorisation technologies into recycling processes. By identifying and assessing advanced detection and conversion technologies, the effort aims to enhance waste management and sustainability while generating valuable materials from OCC rejects.

Technical specifications

The work is organized into three main workstreams:

• Detecting rejects: Evaluating current technologies such as image recognition and near-infrared scanners, and exploring advanced screening using photonic sciences combined with AI.
• Advanced waste conversion: Researching technologies for dewatering, sorting, and converting mixed rejects into valuable materials, including challenges related to depolymerization of mixed plastic feedstock.
• Benchmarking valorised streams: Investigating potential outputs such as oligomeric materials, vitrimer resins, lubricants, waxes, biomass drying processes, liquid fuels, and biochar.

The effort uses both primary and secondary research to identify and evaluate relevant technologies across various industrial sectors.

Technology readiness level

The current technology readiness level is at stage 3, indicating active research and development to evaluate and select the most promising technologies for implementation. Future validation stages include feasibility evaluations and recommendations based on findings.