March 2017

Decomposition drug residues for thermal pressure hydrolysis of diapers and inco materials.
Recycling of diapers and incontinence materials (‘ inco ’) "is a spearhead of Dutch waste policy. Recycling of these materials can only succeed if drug remedies are properly removed. The ideal image of Rijkswaterstaat is that of recycling ‘ diapers and inco ’ no further spread of drug residues in the environment takes place.

Recycling of diapers gives a saving of approximately 480 kilograms of CO2-eq per ton of diapers in the comparison with incineration with energy recovery. This is shown by a life cycle analysis carried out by CE Delft. In this comparison, recycling provides benefits for all three environmental damage categories:

1. a. human health
2. b. ecosystems (living communities of organisms)
3. c. raw materials

More than a year has been tested with a pilot installation. ARN is going to build and commission a large installation this year. The recycling method heats used diapers together with sewage sludge to 250 °C with steam. This removes pathogens and medicines. The products from the diapers are biogas, biomass and plastics. The entire chain was included in the comparison; from collection to finished products.

(report January 2018)