Methodology to quantify single-use plastic products in municipal solid waste Part 1: Development of a sampling methodology

Abstract

In recent years, the consumption of plastic products intended for single use has increased. Directive (EU) 2019/904 aims to reduce the use and the resulting generated waste quantity of single-use plastic (SUP) products. Therefore, manufacturers of SUP products are required to contribute proportionately to the costs of disposing of their products in public collection systems, including litter waste. One possibility to develop a cost model is to determine SUP-product quantities in relevant municipal solid waste (MSW) streams. The partly low quantities and small size of specific SUP products and the focus on waste from public collection systems, including litter waste, impede special requirements for the sampling and analytical procedures. This article provides an approach for sampling and analysing MSW to determine SUP-product quantities. The developed sampling method examines the selection of a suitable sampling area, considering the possibility of extrapolation to a national scale. The adapted sampling procedure aims to achieve statistically representative results. The presented sample preparation is especially suitable for low quantities and small SUP-product sizes. The developed sampling and analytical method aims to achieve representative and reproducible results regarding SUP-product quantities in MSW. The results can contribute to the development of a cost model based on Directive (EU) 2019/904.