RecyClass Recycling Process

The RecyClass Recycling Process Certificate confirms the origin of regranulates created in the plastic recycling process.

The requirements of the RecyClass standard are consistent with the requirements of the standards: EN 15343:2007 and ISO 22095:2020.

The Recycling Process Certificate is the basis for applying for exemption from the plastics tax.

More about RecyClass Recycling Process.

Information

Recycling Process Certification consists of general requirements:

Module G (general): RecyClass Recycling Process Certification – Audit Scheme

and optional additional modules:

Module A: Food Contact
Module B: Cosmetics and Household Applications
Module C: Corporate Social Responsibility
Module D: PVC Requirements

Modules A, B, C, D are in addition to the general requirements. A company cannot apply for just one of the modules, but must also meet the general requirements.

Exceptions:

A recycler based outside the EU+3 must include in the scope of certification Module C: Corporate Social Responsibility and additionally hold a valid certificate focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility, such as SA 8000, SEDEX or equivalent.
Module D: PVC Requirements is mandatory for producers of PVC regranulates

Up-to-date information on the individual modules can be found here.

Types of RecyClass Certificates

Depending on the length of production records, different RecyClass Recycling Process Certificates are being awarded:

initial, for recyclers who can provide production records from the full 12 months preceding the month in which the audit was conducted,
provisional, when the recycling process will be less than 12 months or the organization has less than 12 months of production records. A minimum 3-month data collection period is required to obtain the certificate.
monitoring, for producers who have previously obtained the RecyClass certificate, will undergo an extension (monitoring) audit and can provide production records from the last 12 months,
multi-site certification for organizations conducting the recycling process in two or more separate locations while maintaining the above distinctions.
extension of an existing certificate – applies to situations where significant changes have been made to the recycling process during the certificate validity period, the producer should report this to the auditor. During the certificate validity period, the certificate can also be extended to include additional material or a module. This requires an additional audit.

Certificate Validity:

Certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue by the certification body
In order to maintain the continuity of certification, the recycler should undergo an annual monitoring audit. A monitoring audit can be carried out at the earliest 12 weeks before the expiry of the current certificate.

More information in RecyClass Recycling Process Certification – Quality Management and Procedures.

An organization that wants to obtain a Certificate must have or demonstrate compliance with, among others:

traceability requirements in accordance with EN 15343:2007 quality management systems
requirements for environmental and administrative operational efficiency in waste recycling (including the decision to process waste)
requirements resulting from the declared supply chain.

The main requirements of the RecyClass system are:

conducting business in accordance with applicable laws and permits, especially in the field of environmental protection,
implementation of supply control and quality control procedures for supplied materials, ensuring traceability throughout the recycling process, in accordance with the declared supply chain model,
implementation of good management practices,
mass balance detailing process “inputs” and “outputs”,
quality control of the final product,
providing staff, including management, with appropriate training and qualifications
length of the period for which production records will be maintained, which will be subject to verification.

Certification

Silk Road Certification is an accredited certification body for the RecyClass Recycling Process certification program in accordance with ISO 17065.

Certification is based on cooperation with one of 7 RecyClass auditors.

At Silk Road Certification, we do this in steps:

STEP I: Application

A company interested in obtaining a RecyClass certificate fills out applications indicating, among other things, materials and declared Modules.

To receive an application, contact info@src.org.pl.

STAGE II: Application Review

The application review includes the correctness of the declared data and an assessment of:

the level of certification – whether it is initial, temporary, or related to a significant change in the recycling process, etc.
location
the type of input materials and their sources of origin (waste or products),
the type of output material from recycling,
the justification for the selection of additional modules

STAGE III: Offer

Based on the review of the application, a price offer is presented and a list of documents is provided for verification during the audit.

STAGE IV: Agreement

If the offer is accepted, a contract will be presented.

STAGE V: Audyt

Phase I

After completing the formalities indicated in the above point, you will be asked to submit documentation for review prior to the on-site audit (Phase I of the audit). A list of required documents will be provided in email correspondence. The purpose of reviewing the submitted documentation is to confirm the company’s initial compliance with the requirements.

Phase II

Certification audit – audit activities (on-site visit) conducted at locations performing processes covered by certification.

During an on-site audit, it is necessary for the production line to be operational. If this is impossible for some reason, the audit date should be changed.

Based on the information collected during the audit, the auditor prepares a draft report. The draft may be made available to the Applicant to clarify any final questions. The auditor also informs the Applicant of any non-conformities and asks for the implementation of corrective actions, if necessary, or describes recommendations for improvement.

STAGE VI: Report verification

A RecyClass Silk Road Certification verifier who did not participate in the on-site audit will review the audit report.

STAGE VII: Certificate Issue

If the technical verification result is positive and the applicant fulfills all conditions resulting from the agreement, the RecyClass Verifier, who did not participate in the audit assessment, decides to issue the Certificate. If the review is negative, the Certification will not be granted. The decision must be made within 12 weeks of the date of the on-site audit.

Silk Road Certification prepares the certificate and informs the RecyClass standard owner of its decision in order to update the information in the databas RecyClass.

Q&A

Waste is any substance or object that the holder discards, intends to discard or is obliged to discard in accordance with the European definition contained in the Waste Framework Directive. Waste status ceases to apply when the material is reused for specific purposes, there is a market or demand for it, it meets technical requirements and legal regulations, and its use does not lead to negative impacts on the environment or human health.

Recycling is the process by which waste is transformed into new materials, substances or products that can be used for original or other purposes. The key element of recycling is the point at which waste ceases to be treated as waste and becomes valuable secondary raw materials. This process involves separating, cleaning and transforming materials to meet appropriate technical standards.

Pre-processing waste outputs refers to the initial treatment of waste before it is further processed in the recycling process. In practice, this means activities such as sorting, cleaning, shredding or separation of contaminants. The aim of these operations is to prepare waste for the recycling process in such a way that it meets certain quality standards,
eliminating components that could negatively affect the efficiency of recycling or the quality of the secondary raw material.

A company is obliged to pre-process waste in the following cases:

1. Type of waste: If the company works with post-consumer waste that contains chemical, organic or mechanical contaminants.

2. Certification requirements: If the company applies for certificates such as RecyClass Recycling Process Certification, where pre-processing is required to meet quality standards.

3. Legal regulations: When the processed waste comes into contact with food products or other sensitive applications, the requirements for pre-processing are particularly stringent.

Semi-finished products are materials created during production processes that can be used as raw materials in subsequent stages of production. They can be classified as by-products if their further use is certain, possible without additional processing (outside of standard industrial practices) and in accordance with legal and environmental protection requirements.

Pre-consumer: Waste materials created during production processes that
are not placed on the market, such as scrap or rejects from production lines.
Post-consumer: Waste materials generated after the product has been used by the
end user, for example in the form of used packaging or used electronic equipment.

Agriculture: Waste in this sector includes agricultural films, nets, strings and irrigation pipes. They are usually heavily contaminated with soil and organic residues, which requires thorough cleaning before recycling. Recycling agricultural waste is particularly important due to its large volume and frequent use in open fields.
Automotive: Waste includes plastics from the end of the life cycle of vehicles, such as dashboards, bumpers and door panels. These are often dismantled and segregated, allowing valuable materials to be recovered for the production of new components.
Packaging: The most common waste is PET bottles, packaging films and plastic containers. High recycling rates in this sector are crucial to reducing landfill waste and improving the sustainable use of resources.
Electronics and electricity (EEE): This sector includes waste from electronic and electrical devices, such as plastic housings and cables. This waste
often contains contaminants such as heavy metals, which require specialist processing.
Construction: Plastics in this sector are mainly pipes, PVC windows or insulation materials. Due to their diversity and size, the recycling process often involves shredding and separating materials for reuse in production.

RecyClass distinguishes two models in its chain of custody system:

Controlled Blending: In this model (controlled blending), recycled materials are blended with other raw materials, such as additives or virgin materials, to obtain a product with a known and constant proportion of recycled content. This model focuses on the physical presence of recycled material in the final product and allows for the accurate determination of the percentage of recyclate in the product.
Segregation: The segregation model involves the separate processing and storage of recycled materials from virgin raw materials, ensuring that the final product consists only of recycled material. In this model, there is no mixing with virgin materials, maintaining the purity and integrity of the recyclate throughout the production process.

A mass balance is a tool that allows for detailed monitoring of the flow of materials in the recycling process. It should include:

Input materials: detailed data on the amount and type of waste, secondary raw materials and any additives used in the production process, such as dyes or stabilizers.
Output materials: data on the amount and type of end products, such as recyclate granulates, semi-finished products or finished products.
Resource consumption: information on the use of resources such as electricity,
water and other necessary media that enable the recycling process to be carried out.
Process losses: the amount of materials that have not been transformed into end products, such as contaminants removed during sorting or post-production waste.
Additional processes: technological steps, such as cleaning, sorting or separation, that are necessary to prepare materials for reuse.

A properly developed mass balance not only meets certification requirements, but also enables the identification of potential areas for optimizing production processes.

RecyClass offers two main types of certification, which are tailored to the needs of different users in the value chain:

1. RecyClass Recycling Process Certification: A certification for companies involved in the recycling of plastic waste. It allows them to confirm that the recycling process complies with RecyClass guidelines and produces high-quality secondary raw materials. Recyclers who use this certification can promote their processes as being in line with best practices.

2. RecyClass Recycled Plastics Traceability Certification: A certification for manufacturers and distributors who want to guarantee the transparency and compliance of the recycled materials used in their products. This certification allows them to trace the origin of the materials and confirm that a certain amount of recyclate has been physically introduced into the production process.

Both types of certifications help companies build trust in the market and ensure compliance with regulations on sustainability and the circular economy.

General Terms and Conditions | .PDF

General Certification Conditions | .PDF

Quality Policy | .PDF

Declaration of Impartiality | .PDF

Code of Ethics | .PDF

Anti-corruption policy | .PDF

Cross-border-Certification-Policy | .PDF

Complaints and appeals | .PDF