RecyClass for plastic-waste sorting facilities
Verify waste origin, traceability and control of the sorting process
Do you operate a facility where waste is sorted before further recycling? RecyClass Sorting Process Certification is intended for organisations conducting First Sorting, Secondary Sorting, both sorting stages and appropriate Waste Traders.
The actual process model is what matters most
Origin, quality and traceability of the stream
The scheme focuses on where the waste comes from, how it is sorted, which fractions are produced and whether material information remains reliable until the material is transferred to a recycler or another recipient.
Waste origin, traceability and Plastic Waste quality
Sorting Process Certification covers the actual method of receiving, sorting, storing and dispatching material. The scope should reflect the real activity: First Sorting, Secondary Sorting, both stages or qualifying Waste Trader activity.
The first stage of separating incoming waste into basic material categories, such as plastics, paper, metals, glass and other fractions.
More detailed sorting of separated Plastic Waste, for example by polymer, colour, format, product type or downstream recycler requirements.
Relevant information includes post-consumer / pre-consumer category, waste source and sector, country of origin, collection system, intake documents and applicable permits.
Labelled bays, areas, containers, bales, batch numbers, material codes, weighing documentation or ERP should maintain a reliable link between the physical material and its documentation.
Control may cover material composition, contamination level, presence of other polymers, format, recipient requirements, inspection frequency and documentation of results.
The balance compares Input Waste, Plastic Waste, remaining fractions, rejects and inventory changes. Data may be compared with Site Capacity, Equipment Capacity and the actual throughput of the process.
An additional module may apply to appropriate streams intended for downstream recycling towards Food Contact applications. It does not by itself approve the sorted waste or final plastic for food-contact use.
A qualifying Waste Trader may be covered by Sorting Process Certification if it takes legal ownership of Plastic Waste, participates in its flow and maintains complete documentary traceability.
Sorting Process concerns the preparation and separation of Plastic Waste. Recycling Process covers the actual transformation of waste into Recycled Output. It is useful to define the scope boundary before certification begins, especially for pre-processing operations.
Certified flow before the actual recycling process
The system should work both in the records and on the sorting floor
The boundary depends on what happens to the material
If the process ends with preparing sorted Plastic Waste for recycling, Sorting Process is the relevant area. If the organisation continues with the actual recycling process and produces Recycled Output, Recycling Process Certification may apply.
Frequently asked questions from sorting facilities
Can a sorting facility also need Recycling Process?
Yes, if the same organisation operates separate stages corresponding to both schemes.
Does a Waste Trader have to physically process the material?
Not always. Within the relevant scope, continuity of information, supplier and customer documentation and material traceability are critical.
Is Sorting Process the same as assessing packaging Recyclability?
No. Sorting Process concerns sorting activities and waste streams, while Recyclability concerns packaging design.
Would you like to determine whether your process is First Sorting, Secondary Sorting or another scope?
Describe the input material, source, operations, output streams and recipients. We will help determine the appropriate certification type.