Research on the Morphological Composition and Recovery Possibilities of Selectively Collected Plastics and Metals—A Case Study

The basis for the assessment of the quality of selective waste collection, as well as the direction of modernization of municipal waste sorting technology, should be morphological composition studies. According to research, the gold standard for the assessment of the quality of selective waste collection, as well as the direction of modernization of municipal waste sorting technology, is morphological composition studies. Selective collection of municipal waste is an indispensable element of the waste management system, particularly important in terms of the increasing recycling levels obtained. The recycling of problematic and polluting plastics is one of the main challenges of the European circular economy. By problematic plastics, we mean those that are not suitable for recycling, or their recycling is difficult and expensive for technological reasons, resulting in problems with their management on the market. In 2022, the level of plastic recycling in Europe reached 26.9%. This article presents the results of studies on the morphological composition of selectively collected plastics and metals carried out in the summer and autumn of 2023 for a large city in Poland in the Silesian agglomeration. As a result, the quality of selectively collected waste, the share of pollutants in it, depending on the type of development, and the real possibilities of its recovery were determined. As part of the results obtained, a simulation was also carried out on how the deposit system planned from the first of October 2025 in Poland will affect the morphological composition of plastics and metals currently collected in the yellow container/bag.