postconsumo

Postconsumo is a term used in waste management and environmental sustainability to describe materials, products, or packaging after they have been used by final consumers. It contrasts with preconsumo (pre-consumer) waste, which originates in manufacturing and processing before products reach the consumer. Postconsumo waste comprises items that enter the consumer waste stream and are collected for recovery, recycling, energy recovery, or final disposal. Common postconsumo streams include paper and cardboard, plastics, glass, metals, textiles, and organic waste.

In recycling, postconsumo recycling aims to recover materials to produce secondary raw materials. These are often referred to as post-consumer recycled content (PCR). Challenges include contamination, variable composition, efficient collection and sorting, and market demand for recycled materials. Successful postconsumo management depends on design for recyclability, consumer participation, and robust infrastructure.

Processes involve separate collection, sorting, cleaning, mechanical or chemical processing, and reintroduction into manufacturing as feedstock for new products. Some postconsumo streams are suitable for high-grade recycling (e.g., paper, certain plastics), while others may be downcycled or routed to energy recovery.

Impact and policy considerations: Effective postconsumo management lowers the use of virgin resources, reduces waste sent to landfills, and can cut emissions, though energy use and emissions depend on technology and scale. Policy tools include extended producer responsibility, deposit-return schemes, and recycling targets. The concept is central to the circular economy, which seeks to close the loop by returning postconsumed materials to productive use.