Abstract
Since waste plastics emit carbon dioxide when incinerated, their repeated use as recycled materials is important; not only for improving resource efficiency but also as a measure against climate change. In the Plastics Recycling Strategy released by the Japanese government in May 2019, it is stated that, “the recycling of plastics (use of recycled materials) will be doubled by 2030,” making it essential to promote investment and innovation. On the other hand, regulations against hazardous substances, such as RoHS Directive and POPs Convention, are being strengthened, and the use of recycled materials requires the same response as that of virgin materials. In order to ensure the quality of recycled materials in terms of both physical properties (strength) and hazardous substances, it is inevitable to utilize sensing technology to directly detect substances in the sorting process and in quality control. This paper describes the use of sensing technology in closed loop plastic recycling of home appliances promoted by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
