Global plastic production increased enormously from 1950 to 2018, leading to a corresponding rise in plastic waste, of which less than 30% is recycled. In Europe, the main disposal method is incineration with energy recovery, followed by recycling, while 25% of plastic waste still ends up in landfills. Moreover, more than half of the plastic collected for recycling is exported due to a lack of adequate infrastructure 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%.
Several plastic separation methods exist, including 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 various industrial sectors.
The RINASCITA project involves the development of two new centrifuges for plastic recycling: a vertical one (CDV) for testing and optimization, and a horizontal one (CDO) for continuous flow processing, which is more advanced and scientifically relevant. The research includes the use of computational simulations (CFD) to optimize the process, reducing experimental time and improving the industrial efficiency of plastic recycling.
