BE1029450B1 - COST-BENEFIT DETERMINATION FOR THE RECYCLING OF MULTILAYER PLASTIC WASTE - Google Patents

Abstract

A cost-benefit determination for the recycling of multilayer plastic waste includes the acquisition of a compositional analysis of different constituent components of a recyclable object and the recovery of a set of thermoplastic separation parameters and the associated costs of recovery during the recycling of each of the components, and also of the associated market values for the recycled forms of the components. Selectable lists of both the components, and also the retrieved parameters are then displayed and one or more of the components are selected together with one or more of the parameters. For each of the selected components, a recycling cost is calculated based on the corresponding associated costs in conjunction with the thermoplastic separation parameters, and a value is calculated for having recycled the selected components based on the corresponding market values. Provided the cost exceeds the value, an indication is displayed to discard the initiation of recycling, but otherwise an indication is displayed in the UI to initiate recycling.

Description

COST-BENEFIT DETERMINATION

FOR THE RECYCLING OF MULTILAYER PLASTIC WASTE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of invention

The present invention relates to the technical field of the recycling of thermoplastic composites and more particularly to the dissolution of multilayer thermoplastics.

Description of prior art

Plastic recycling is the process of recovering plastic scrap or waste and reprocessing the material into useful products. The nature of plastic recycling depends on the type of plastic itself. Unlike a thermoset plastic, a thermoplastic, or heat malleable plastic, is a plastic polymer material that becomes bendable or moldable at a certain high temperature and solidifies upon cooling. The recycling of thermoplastics includes many benefits such as the supply of raw materials for the manufacturing industry, a reduced environmental threat for humans since they are non-biodegradable, incineration and landfill problems reduced to a minimum, consumption lower energy for sustenance, and it serves as a source of income and employment opportunities.

There are several methods for recycling thermoplastics, including primary recycling, mechanical recycling, and chemical recycling. In chemical recycling, waste plastics serve as raw materials and are converted into monomer or other products by decomposition and depolymerization of the starting material through the use of thermal energy or a catalyst. In the case of chemical recycling of a thermoplastic, chemical dissolution decomposition and depolymerization results in the decomposition of polymeric thermoplastic waste into lower molecular weight species for reuse. Dissolution can be achieved by immersing the thermoplastic in a solvent such as benzene, chlorobenzene, trichlorethylene, toluene and xylene.

Recycling plastics is not without consequences, specifically in terms of cost. The cost of chemical recycling can be quite significant. However, recovering valuable recyclables outweighs this cost when the amount of recyclables recovered exceeds a certain threshold. Knowing when the likely amount of recoverable recyclables will reach this threshold resulting in a profitable exercise, however, is a matter of individual guesswork. This is especially true for multi-layered plastics where different recyclable components may have different market values and the recoverable amount of each of the recyclable components in one multi-layered plastic may vary from another. As such, in many cases an unprofitable chemical recycling process may be prematurely initiated and likewise a profitable chemical recycling process may be inadvertently discarded.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address technical deficiencies in the art in initiating a cost effective chemical recycling process. To this end, embodiments of the present invention provide a novel and non-obvious method for a cost-benefit determination method for recycling multi-layered plastic waste. The embodiments of the present invention also make it possible to obtain a new and non-obvious computing device suitable for carrying out the previous method. Finally, the embodiments of the present invention allow to obtain a new and non-obvious data processing system incorporating the previous device in order to realize the previous method.

In one embodiment of the invention, a cost-benefit determination method for recycling multi-layered plastic waste includes acquiring a compositional analysis of different constituent components of different weights of a recyclable object. Also, the method includes the recovery of both a set of thermoplastic separation parameters for the recovery of each of the various constituent components in a recycling process, and the associated costs per unit weight of recovery in the process. of recycling, of each of the various constituent components, and also of the associated market values for the recycled forms of the various constituent components. The method then includes displaying in a user interface to an optimization application, a selectable list of both the various constituent components, and also the retrieved set of thermoplastic separation parameters.

Next, an end user selects, through the user interface, both one or more of the various constituent components, and also one or more of the thermoplastic separation parameters. Once the selection has been accomplished, for each of the selected constituent components, a recycling cost can be calculated for the selected components based on the corresponding associated costs.

Also, for each of the selected constituent components, a value for having recycled the selected constituent components can be calculated based on the corresponding market values. Finally, on the condition that the cost exceeds the value, an indication can be displayed in the user interface to rule out the launch of a recycling process for the selected constituent components. But otherwise, on the condition that the value exceeds the cost, an indication is displayed in the user interface to initiate the recycling process for the selected constituent components.

In one aspect of the embodiment, provided the cost exceeds the value, a quantity is calculated of the one or more constituent components selected from among the various constituent components that need to be recovered when performing a process recycling so that the cost is less than or equal to the value, and the quantity is displayed in the UI. In another aspect of the embodiment, based on the constituent components selected, a predetermined specification of values for the thermoplastic separation parameters is displayed in the user interface. In yet another aspect of the embodiment, provided the cost exceeds the value for a constituent component selected from the one or more constituent components among the different constituent components, a recalculation of cost and value may be performed for a combination of both the selected components, and also an additional constituent component from among the various constituent components. As such, in the event that the recalculated value exceeds the recalculated cost, a prompt is presented in the UI to select the additional constituent component for recycling.

In another embodiment of the invention, a data processing system is adapted for a cost-benefit determination for the recycling of multilayer plastic waste. The system includes a host computing platform having one or more computers, each having memory and one or more processing units including one or more processing cores. The system also includes an optimization application executed in the memory of the host computing platform, the application having been configured to optimize a selection of different constituent components of a recyclable object. The system also includes a cost-benefit analysis module coupled to the application in the memory of the host computing platform.

The module includes computer program instructions validated while being executed in memory by at least one of the processing units of the host computing platform to acquire a compositional analysis of the different constituent components of different weights of the recyclable object and to recover a set of thermoplastic separation parameters for the recovery of each of the various constituent components, and associated costs per unit weight of recovery in a recycling process of each of the various constituent components, and associated market values for the shapes recycled from the various constituent components. The program instructions are further enabled to display in a user interface to the optimization application, both a selectable list of the various constituent components, and also a selectable list of the retrieved set of thermoplastic separation parameters. 5 Program instructions are further enabled to select through the user interface both one or more of the various constituent components and also one or more of the thermoplastic separation parameters. In response to the selection, the program instructions calculate, for each of the selected components, based on the corresponding associated ones of the associated costs and the corresponding associated ones of the associated market values, both a component recycling cost selected to recycle, and also a value for having recycled the selected components. Finally, provided that the cost exceeds the value, the program instructions display an indication in the user interface to discard the initiation of a recycling process for the selected constituent components. But otherwise, provided the value exceeds the cost, the program instructions display an indication in the user interface to initiate the recycling process for the selected components.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a computing device is provided that includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored therein. The instructions are of the type that are executable by at least one processing core of a processing unit so as to cause the processing unit to make a cost-benefit determination for the recycling of multilayer plastic waste. In this regard, the method includes the acquisition of a compositional analysis of different constituent components of different weights of a recyclable object. Likewise, the method includes the recovery of both a set of thermoplastic separation parameters for the recovery of each of the various constituent components in a recycling process, and the associated costs per unit weight for the recovery of each of the different constituent components in the recycling process, each of the different constituent components, and also associated market values for the recycled forms of the different constituent components. The method then includes displaying in a user interface to an optimization application, a selectable list of both the various constituent components, and also the retrieved set of thermoplastic separation parameters.

Then, the method makes it possible to obtain the selection by an end user through the user interface, both of one or more of the various constituent components, and also of one or more of the thermoplastic separation parameters. Once the selection has been completed, for each of the constituent components selected, the method includes the calculation of a recycling cost based on the corresponding associated costs. Similarly, for each of the selected constituent components, the method includes calculating a value for having recycled the selected constituent components based on the corresponding market values. Finally, on the condition that the cost exceeds the value, the method includes the display of an indication in the user interface to rule out the launch of a recycling process for the selected constituent components. But otherwise, provided the value exceeds the cost, the method includes displaying an indication in the user interface to initiate the recycling process for the selected constituent components.

In this way, the technical deficiencies of the chemical recycling of multilayer plastics are overcome due to the intelligent cost-benefit prediction for a recovery in a recycling process of different selected combinations of different constituent components of a multilayer plastic.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and achieved by means of the elements and combinations particularly noted in the appended claims. It is understood that the preceding general description and the following detailed description are both given by way of example and explanation only and do not limit the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are preferred herein, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangements and instruments shown, in which:

Figure 1 is a pictorial illustration reflecting different aspects of a cost-benefit determination process for recycling multilayer plastic waste:

Figure 2 is a block diagram representing a data processing system suitable for carrying out one of the aspects of the method of Figure 1; And,

Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating one aspect of the process for

Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide a cost-benefit determination for recycling multi-layered plastic waste. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cost-benefit determination for the recycling of multi-layered plastic waste includes the specification of an input weight of the waste together with an initial characterization of the constituent components of recyclable plastic waste, followed by selecting one or more of the constituent components to be recovered and specifying one or more thermoplastic separation parameters necessary to recover the selected components during recycling based on input weight. Then, for each constituent component selected,

both a cost per weight to recover the selected constituent component in a chemical recycling process using the specified thermoplastic separation parameters, and also a market value per weight of a recovered form of the selected constituent component can be recovered. Also, a weight of the recovered form of the selected constituent component can be predicted. Finally, both a total cost of recovering the selected component is calculated based on cost per weight, together with a total market value of the recovered form of the selected components. The total cost when compared to the total market value, then, leads to the determination of whether or not to recycle the selected constituent component or components.

Illustrating one aspect of the embodiment, Figure 1 pictorially shows a cost-benefit determination process for recycling multi-layered plastic waste. As shown in Figure 1, a characterization of a multilayer plastic film is presented in a user interface 110A, 110B to an optimization application in terms of a total weight of the multilayer plastic film and the constituent components thereof. by percentage of material composition of the multilayer plastic film. Based on the characterization, an indication of a total weight of each of the constituent components is also presented in the user interface 110, 110B. Next, different thermoplastic separation parameters 140 are retrieved for the constituent components in terms of an amount of solvent to be introduced into the multi-layered plastic film during a recycling process, a temperature at which the multi-layered plastic film should remain immersed in the solvent , and a time during which the multilayer plastic film must remain immersed in the solvent. These parameters are also presented in the user interface 110, 110B.

An end user can then select one or more of the constituent components presented in user interface 110A, 110B. Likewise, the end user can specify a different value for one or more of the 140 thermoplastic separation parameters, such as a different amount of solvent, a different temperature, or a different time. In response, cost-benefit logic 120 interrogates a cost/value table 130 to retrieve the costs per weight of constituent components selected based on the thermoplastic separation parameters 140 specified. In this regard, costs can vary depending on the volume of solvent consumed, and the energy required to power the recycling process, to name two examples, with the energy component being the dominant cost component.

The cost-benefit determination logic 120 also interrogates the cost/value table 130 to calculate a quantity of the selected constituent components predicted to be recovered based on the weight of the selected constituent component determined to be present in the multilayer plastic film and the 140 thermoplastic separation parameters specified. Finally, the cost-benefit logic 120 interrogates the cost/value table 130 to retrieve a market value per weight of the selected constituent component and calculates a total value of the predicted amount of the selected constituent component to retrieve. To the extent that the calculated cost exceeds the calculated value, cost-benefit determination logic 120 overrides the command in user interface 110A to initiate the recycling process and issues an advisory prompt, "DO NOT CONTINUE". But otherwise, as long as the calculated cost does not exceed the calculated value, the cost-benefit determination logic 120 validates the command in the user interface 110B to initiate the recycling process and renders an advisory prompt, "CONTINUE" .

The aspects of the method described in connection with Figure 1 can be implemented inside a data processing system. In a further illustration, Figure 2 schematically shows a data processing system suitable for carrying out a cost-benefit determination method for the recycling of multilayer plastic waste. In the data processing system illustrated in Figure 1, a host computing platform 200 is provided. Host computing platform 200 includes one or more computers 210, each having memory 220 and one or more processing units 230. Host computing platform computers 210 (only a single computer shown for simplicity of illustration) may be co-located within and in communication with each other over a local area network, or over a data communication bus, or the computers may be disposed remote from and in communication with each other with each other through a network interface 260 over a data communications network.

The host computer platform 200 supports the operation of an optimization application adapted to control a recycling process for multilayer plastic film, at least by specification through a corresponding user interface 270, of thermoplastic separation parameters 290B stored in a store of data 280 needed to optimally recycle one or more constituent recyclable components from the multilayer plastic film. Notably, a computing device 250 including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be included with the data processing system 200 and accessible by the processing units 230 of one or more of the computers 210.

The computing device stores 250 thereon or encloses therein a program module 300 which includes computer program instructions which, when executed by one or more of the processing units 230, perform a process executable in a manner programmatic for a cost-benefit determination for the recycling of multilayer plastic waste in concert with the optimization application 240.

Specifically, the program instructions during execution receive from the optimization application 240, a characterization of the multilayer plastic scrap in terms of the constituent components therein, the material composition of those constituent components, and a present percentage of each, together with a total weight of multilayer plastic waste. The program instructions then render in the user interface, a selectable control element in which one of the constituent components can be specified. In response, the program instructions retrieve from data store 280 corresponding thermoplastic separation parameters of thermoplastic separation parameters 290B for the constituent component selected from the constituent components and display these in a reviewable set of commands in the user interface 270. The end user can then modify the thermoplastic separation parameters displayed among the thermoplastic separation parameters 290B.

Upon receipt of a specification of the constituent component from among the constituent components, and optionally, a modified form of the thermoplastics separation parameters 290B, it may first be determined by reference to a table, whether the constituent component specified among the constituent components may or may not be recovered during a recycling process based on the modified shape of the thermoplastic separation parameters 290B. If not, a prompt may be generated in user interface 270. Otherwise, a cost may then be determined for retrieving the specified constituent component from the constituent components based on the modified form of the parameters separation of thermoplastics 290B, with reference to one or more cost/value tables 290A of known recovery values stored in data store 280. Likewise, a value of a predicted amount of recovery of the constituent component specified from the constituent may be calculated based on a value per weight stored in the one or more cost/value tables 290. For example, the value may be presented relative to the constituent component specified among the constituent components, or relative to an encapsulated fiber by the constituent component specified among the constituent components. To the extent that the cost exceeds the value, program instructions may display an alert in the user interface. However, to the extent that the value exceeds the cost, a corresponding alert may also be rendered in user interface 270.

In a further illustration of an exemplary operation of the module, Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating one of the method aspects of the

Figure 1. Beginning in block 310, a compositional analysis is received for multi-layered plastic waste based, at least in part, on chemometric analysis of hyperspectral images of the waste. In block 320, different thermoplastic separation parameters are retrieved for different constituent components of the constituent components determined to be present in the waste. In block 330, the costs per weight to retrieve each different one of the constituent components are retrieved from a table in memory, together with a market value per weight of a retrieved form of each different one of the constituent components. constituents.

Optionally, a margin can be specified in addition to the costs.

In block 340, a particular one of the constituent components is selected and in block 350, the separation parameters for the particular one of the constituent components extracted from the retrieved parameters. Next, in block 360, a cost to retrieve the particular one of the constituent components using the retrieved parameters extracted from the retrieved parameters is calculated together with a market value of a quantity predicted to be to be retrieved of the particular one of the constituent components. the constituent components. In decision block 370, it is determined whether the calculated costs exceed the calculated value. Optionally, it is determined whether the calculated costs including the specified margin exceed the calculated value. If not, in block 380 a prompt is generated to proceed with the recycling process for the particular constituent component of the constituent components. If so, in block 390 a prompt is generated not to proceed with the recycle process.

It is important to note that the preceding flow chart and block diagram referred to herein illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of computing systems, methods, and devices according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment or part of instructions, which includes one or more executable instructions to implement the specified logical function or functions. In some alternate implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur in an order different from the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. It is also noted that each block in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, may be implemented by specialized hardware-based systems that perform specified functions or acts or perform combinations of specialized hardware and computer instructions.

More specifically, the present invention may be embodied in a programmatically executable method. Similarly, the present invention may be embodied in a computing device on which programmatic instructions are stored and from which the programmatic instructions are enabled to be loaded into a memory of a data processing system and executed from the latter in order to carry out the above programmatically executable method. Further, the present invention may be embodied in a data processing system adapted to load the programmatic instructions from a computing device and then to execute the programmatic instructions to perform the foregoing programmatically executable method.

For this purpose, the computing device is a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or mediums containing therein or storing thereon computer-readable program instructions. These instructions, when executed from memory by one or more processing units of a data processing system, cause the processing units to perform various programmatic processes which are examples of various aspects of the executable process of programmatic way. In this regard, processing units each include an instruction executing device such as a central processing unit or “CPU” of a computer. One or more computers may be included within the data processing system. It should be noted that while the CPU may be a single-core CPU, it is understood that multiple CPU cores may operate within the CPU and in either case the instructions are directly loaded. from memory in one or more of the cores of one or more of the CPUs for execution.

Besides loading instructions directly from memory for execution by one or more cores of a CPU or multiple CPUs, the computer-readable program instructions described herein may alternatively be retrieved from a computer communication network into the memory of a computer of the data processing system for execution therein. Similarly, only part of the program instructions can be retrieved into memory from the computer communication network, while other parts can be loaded from persistent storage of the computer. Furthermore, only part of the program instructions can be executed by one or more processing cores of one or more CPUs of one of the computers of the data processing system, while other parts can be executed cooperative within a computer different from the data processing system which is either co-located with the computer or positioned remotely from the computer on the computer communication network with the results of the calculation by the two computers shared between these.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements. as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment has been selected and described in order to better explain the principles of the invention and practical application, and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments having various modifications as adapted to the particular intended use.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and with reference to the embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the claims. appended as follows:

Claims (12)

CLAIMS We claim: 1. Cost-benefit determination method for the recycling of multilayer plastic waste comprising: the acquisition of a compositional analysis of different constituent components of different weights of a recyclable object; the recovery of a set of thermoplastic separation parameters for the recovery of each of the different constituent components in a recycling process, and the associated costs per unit weight of the recovery in the recycling process of each of the different constituent components, and associated market values for recycled forms of the various constituent components; displaying in a user interface to an optimization application, both a selectable list of constituent components among the various constituent components, and also a selectable list of the retrieved set of thermoplastic separation parameters; the selection through the user interface of both one or more constituent components among the various constituent components and also of one or more of the thermoplastic separation parameters; calculating, for each of the one or more constituent components selected from the different constituent components, on the basis of the corresponding associated costs from the associated costs and the corresponding associated market values from the associated market values together with the thermoplastic separation parameters, to both a cost of recycling the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components, and also a value for recycling the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components; and, provided that the cost exceeds the value, displaying an indication in the user interface to preclude the initiation of a recycling process for the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components, but otherwise provided that the value exceeds the cost, displaying an indication in the user interface to initiate the recycling process for the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components. A method according to claim 1, wherein on the condition that the cost exceeds the value, a quantity is calculated of the one or more constituent components selected from among the various constituent components which it is necessary to recover when performing a recycling process so that the cost is less than or equal to the value, and the quantity is displayed in the user interface. A method according to claim 1, wherein based on the one or more constituent components selected from the different constituent components, a predetermined specification of values for the thermoplastic separation parameters is displayed in the user interface. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein provided that the cost exceeds the value for a constituent component selected from the one or more constituent components among the different constituent components, the recalculation, for a combination of both the constituent component selected from the one or more constituent components from the different constituent components, and also an additional constituent component from the one or more constituent components from the different constituent components, on the basis of corresponding associated costs from the associated costs and market values associated among the associated market values, both of a cost of recycling the combination, and also of a value for having recycled the combination, and provided that the recalculated value exceeds the recalculated cost, the display in the a prompt user interface to select the constit component additional useful among the one or more constituent components among the various constituent components for recycling. 5. A data processing system suitable for a cost-benefit determination for the recycling of multilayer plastic waste, the system comprising: a host computing platform comprising one or more computers, each comprising a memory and one or more processing units including a or more processing cores; an optimization application executed in the memory of the host computer platform, the application presenting a configuration to optimize the recovery of a selection of different constituent components of a recyclable object; and, a cost-benefit analysis module coupled to the application in memory of the host computing platform, the module including computer program instructions validated while being executed in memory by at least one of the processing units of the host computing platform to carry out: the acquisition of a compositional analysis of the different constituent components of different weights of the recyclable object; the recovery of a set of thermoplastics separation parameters for the recovery of each of the various constituent components in a recycling process, and the associated costs per unit weight of the recovery of the various constituent components in the recycling process of each of the different constituent components, and associated market values for the recycled forms of the different constituent components: displaying in a user interface to the optimization application, both a selectable list of constituent components among the different constituent components, and also a selectable list of the retrieved set of thermoplastic separation parameters; the selection through the user interface of both one or more constituent components among the various constituent components and also of one or more of the thermoplastic separation parameters; calculating, for each of the one or more constituent components selected from the different constituent components, on the basis of the corresponding associated costs from the associated costs and the corresponding associated market values from the associated market values together with the thermoplastic separation parameters, to both a cost of recycling the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components to be recycled, and also a value for having recycled the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components; and, provided that the cost exceeds the value, displaying an indication in the user interface to preclude the initiation of a recycling process for the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components, but otherwise provided that the value exceeds the cost, displaying an indication in the user interface to initiate the recycling process for the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components. A system according to claim 5, wherein on the condition that the cost exceeds the value, a quantity is calculated of the one or more constituent components selected from among the various constituent components which it is necessary to recover when accomplishing a recycling process so that the cost is less than or equal to the value, and the quantity is displayed in the user interface. A system according to claim 6, wherein based on the one or more constituent components selected from the different constituent components, a predetermined specification of values for the thermoplastic separation parameters is displayed in the user interface. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein provided the cost exceeds the value for a constituent component selected from the one or more constituent components from among the different constituent components, the recalculation, for a combination of both the constituent component selected from the one or more constituent components from the different constituent components, and also an additional constituent component from the one or more constituent components from the different constituent components, on the basis of corresponding associated costs from the associated costs and market values associated among the associated market values, both of a cost of recycling the combination, and also of a value for having recycled the combination, and provided that the recalculated value exceeds the recalculated cost, the display in the a prompt user interface to select the constituent component if additional among the one or more constituent components among the different constituent components for recycling. 9. A computing device comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by at least one processing core of a processing unit to cause the processing unit to performing a cost-benefit determination method for recycling multi-layered plastic waste, the method including: acquiring a compositional analysis of different constituent components of different weights of a recyclable object; the recovery of a set of thermoplastic separation parameters for the recovery of each of the different constituent components in a recycling process, and the associated costs per unit weight of the recovery in the recycling process of each of the different constituent components, and associated market values for recycled forms of the various constituent components; displaying in a user interface to an optimization application, both a selectable list of constituent components among the various constituent components, and also a selectable list of the retrieved set of thermoplastic separation parameters for recovering each of the various constituent components; the selection through the user interface of both one or more constituent components among the various constituent components and also of one or more of the thermoplastic separation parameters; calculating, for each of the one or more constituent components selected from the different constituent components, on the basis of the corresponding associated costs from the associated costs and the corresponding associated market values from the associated market values together with the thermoplastic separation parameters, to both a cost of recycling the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components to be recycled, and also a value for having recycled the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components; and, provided that the cost exceeds the value, displaying an indication in the user interface to preclude the initiation of a recycling process for the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components, but otherwise provided that the value exceeds the cost, displaying an indication in the user interface to initiate the recycling process for the one or more constituent components selected from the constituent components. A computing device according to claim 9, wherein on the condition that the cost exceeds the value, a quantity is calculated of the one or more constituent components selected from among the various constituent components which are required to be retrieved upon accomplishment of a recycling process so that the cost is less than or equal to the value, and the quantity is displayed in the user interface. A computing device according to claim 9, wherein based on the one or more constituent components selected from the different constituent components, a predetermined specification of values for the thermoplastic separation parameters is displayed in the user interface. 12. A computing device according to claim 9, wherein provided that the cost exceeds the value for a constituent component selected from the one or more constituent components among the different constituent components, the recalculation, for a combination of both the component component selected from the one or more component components from among the various component components, and also an additional component component from among the one or more component components from the various component components, on the basis of corresponding associated costs among the associated costs and values corresponding associated merchant values from among the associated merchant values, both of a cost of recycling the combination, and also of a value for having recycled the combination, and provided that the recalculated value exceeds the recalculated cost, the display in the user interface of a prompt to select the co additional constituent component among the one or more constituent components among the various constituent components for recycling.