Identifying the opportunities for plastics recovery

The waste management situation is characterised by high economic pressure. Driving factors are e.g. legislation and the demand to reach ecologically and economically friendly solutions. The recycling strategy of the Commission "communication towards a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste in May 2003 (COM(2003) 301)" showed that there is a need for overall orientations for recycling policy for the coming decade. One instrument, which is discussed in the paper is the use of cost-benefit analyses to reach solutions, which are approved in science, economy and politics