[Material recovery from waste].
Reclamation of raw material from refuse is demonstrated by two practical examples. In numerous countries sorting plants were set up at considerable expense for the purpose of reclaiming plastic material from household refuse. Most of these plants are struggling more or less with difficulties as a result of technical and particularly economic problems. A market for reclaimed raw materials scarcely exists. This applies most particularly to the reclamation of plastics from household refuse. As long as the operating costs, especially the energy costs, exceed the proceeds obtained for regranulated material, "recycling" will be to no purpose. At present, reclaiming energy from refuse seems to hold out better prospects of success.
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