Hyperspectral imaging for VIS-SWIR classification of post-consumer plastic packaging products by polymer and color

An efficient and reliable post-consumer plastic packaging recovery represents one of the main targets of the sector in a circular economy perspective. Secondary plastics are still far to reach in EU important volumes in respect of primary ones, this is due to: i) the similar physical-chemical characteristics utilized to perform separation and ii) the transfer/collection methods. In this paper the results, referred to polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), achieved adopting a combined hyperspectral imaging-based approach in the VIS-SWIR ranges are reported. Results showed as polymer/color detection can dramatically improve quantity and quality of post-consumer PE and PP packaging recovery.