The objective of the PlastiCity project is to develop replicable strategies and solutions that are able to increase recycling rates in urban environments from 20-30% to over 50% by unlocking the use of ‘lost plastics’ as secondary resources from the urban environment. Additional objectives are:

• Develop technical strategies for (reverse) logistics and reprocessing
• Inducing behavioral change and creating capacity of stakeholders such as local governments and companies through urban platforms
• Demonstrate this in 4 case study cities in the 2Seas area (Ghent (BE), Den Haag (NL), Southend On Sea (UK) and Douai (FR))
• Creating new value chains and designing new products, amongst others by unlocking the full potential of ‘medium’ size actors (SME’s, offices, retail, schools, etc.)
• Deploy a mobile unit for testing, demonstration and sensitisation
• Create business activity and employment in the circular economy (100-400 jobs)

The main project output is a strategy to create PlastiCity hubs to significantly increase the recycling rates lost plastics in urban environments in the 2Seas region. Such a hub is defined as a local network of relevant partners and physical infrastructure, supported by a digital environment/Urban Platform

We also deliver:

• A methodology to deliver tailored solutions for logistics and lumping waste streams with optimized balance between quantity and quality of plastic collection and reprocessing
• A replicable model to create capacity for plastics in the circular economy through urban platforms (with digital data management) and new business models
• Demonstration and implementation of the Plasticity approach in 4 case study areas with the development of 4 new value chains with business cases, the design of 4 new products and first investments to actually start up (parts) of the hub
• A mobile unit that is used for testing, demonstration and sensitisation in the 4 case study areas

We foresee a quadruple helix co-creation process involving industry, government, research and citizens. This brings together a diverse range of urban and academic skills, expertise and approaches and different national and local systems that will help identify best practice, ensuring that we can develop a replicable model that is relevant to other urban environments in the 2S region. Indeed, cities in the 2S area display huge differences in economic typologies, waste management schemes, cultural context, and local and regional policies. Insights in this variety and its impact on the business models facilitates the assessment of specificities and best practices and facilitates replication towards other urban areas. PlastiCity involves 4 case study cities, each focusing on demonstrating specific aspects of the strategy. To facilitate cross-border collaboration, PlastiCity involves a mobile unit that travels in the 2S region to perform testing, demonstration and sensitisation actions.