Activated Sludge
Biomass produced in the aerobic treatment of waste-water by the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms in the presence of dissolved oxygen.
Agglomerate
Shredded and/or granulated plastics material in the form of particles which cling together.
Anaerobic Digestion
Process of controlled decomposition of biodegradable materials under managed conditions where free oxygen is absent, at temperatures suitable for naturally occurring mesophilic or thermophilic anaerobic and facultative bacteria species, that convert the inputs to a methane rich biogas and digestate. Note 1. In a second phase, the digestate is typically stabilised by means of a composting (aerobic) process.
Baling
Process in which plastics waste is compacted and secured as a bundle to facilitate handling, storage and transportation.
Biodegradation
Degradation caused by biological activity especially by enzymatic action leading to a significant change in the chemical structure of a material.
Biological Recycling
Aerobic (composting) or anaerobic (digestion) treatment of biodegradable plastics waste under controlled conditions using micro-organisms to produce, in the presence of oxygen, stabilizing organic residues, carbon dioxide and water or, in the absence of oxygen, stabilizing organic residues, methane, carbon dioxide and water.
Commingled Plastics
Mixture of materials or products consisting of different types of plastic.
Compost
Organic soil conditioner obtained by biodegradation of a mixture principally consisting of various vegetable residues, occasionally with other organic material, and having a limited mineral content.
Compostability
Property of a material to be biodegraded in a composting process.
Compostable Plastic
Plastic that undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and leaves no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.
Composting
Aerobic process designed to produce compost.
Contaminant
Unwanted substance or material.
Degradation
Irreversible process leading to a significant change in the structure of a material, typically characterized by a loss of properties (e.g. integrity, molecular mass or structure, mechanical strength) and/or by fragmentation, affected by environmental condition, proceeding over a period of time and comprising one or more steps.
Depolymerization
Chemical reversion of a polymer to its monomer(s) or to a polymer of lower relative molecular mass.
Disintegration
Physical breakdown of a material into very small fragments.
Energy Recovery
Production of useful energy through direct and controlled combustion.
Environmental Sustainability
State in which the ecosystem and its functions are maintained for the present and future generation.
Filler
Relatively inert solid material added to a plastic to modify its strength, permanence, working properties or other qualities, or to lower costs.
Flake
Plate-like regrind.
Fluff
Filament-like regrind.
Home Composting
Practice performed by a private individual with the aim of producing compost for his own use.
Maturity of Compost
Assignment of the maturity of a compost based on the measurement of the maximum temperature in a self-heating test using Dewar vessels. (Wiki)
Maximum Level of Biodegradation
Degree of biodegradation, measured in percent, of a chemical compound or organic matter in a test, above which no further biodegradation takes place during the test.
Organic Constituent
Chemical constituent that contains carbon covalently linked to other carbon atoms and to other elements, most commonly hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen. Allotropes of carbon, such as diamond, graphite, carbon black, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes are not considered as organic constituent.
Organic Recycling
Aerobic (composting) or Anaerobic (digestion) treatment of plastics waste under controlled conditions using microorganisms to produce, in the presence of oxygen, stabilized organic residues (compost), carbon dioxide and water or, in the absence of oxygen, stabilized organic residues (compost) methane and carbon dioxide.
Post-Consumer
Descriptive term covering material generated by the end-users of products, that has fulfilled its intended purpose or can no longer be used (including material returned from within the distribution chain). The term ‘post-use’ is sometimes used synonymously.
Pre-Conditioning
Pre-incubation of an inoculum under the conditions of the subsequent test in the absense of the acclimatization of the microorganisms to the test conditions.
Pre-Consumer
Descriptive term covering material diverted during a manufacturing process. This term excludes re-utilizing material, such as rework, regrind or scrap that has been generated in a given process and is capable of being reclaimed within that same process. The term ‘post-industrial material’ is sometimes used synonymously.
Total Dry Solids
Amount of solids obtained by taking a known volume of test material or compost and drying at about 105 degrees centigrade to constant mass.
Ultimate Aerobic Biodegradation
Breakdown of an organic compound by micro-organisms in the presence of oxygen into carbon-dioxide, water and mineral salts of any other elements present (mineralization) plus new biomass.
Volatile Solids
Amount of solids obtained by subtracting the residues of a known volume of test material or compost after incineration at about 550 degrees centigrade from the total dry solids content of the same sample. The volatile solids content is an indication of the amount of organic matter present.
Well Managed Industrial Composting Process
Composting process performed under controlled conditions where the temperature, water content, aerobic conditions, carbon/nitrogen ratio and other conditions are optimized.
Online Sources:
ISO 17088:2021(en), Plastics — Organic recycling — Specifications for compostable plastics
Date accessed: 10.10.2022