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New Plant Represents Mixed-Plastics Management Breakthrough
May 16, 2012A joint venture between Coca-Cola & Eco Plastics could change the way plastics are handled forever.
Whilst one of the mainstays of the recycling industry, the way that plastics are recycled and plastic waste is managed is still something that is very much a work-in-progress.
However, a new plant opened in Lincolnshire could change the way that plastics are recycled around the world, thanks to the way it handles mixed plastics.
Recycling plastic bottles has developed into a multi-million pound industry within itself, however recycling mixed plastics has remained a sticking point. But now, a new £15m plant in North Lincolnshire will use advanced technology to integrate the processing of plastic bottles and polymers.
The plant - a joint venture recycling operation between Coca-Cola Enterprises and ECO Plastics - will process15,000 tonnes of rigid plastic packaging (such as tubs, pots and trays) every year.
Government waste advisory organisation WRAP has put s £1.15m loan to develop the facility, on to proviso that it becomes part of national waste management system for recycling rigid plastics.
Recycling plastic bottles began in earnest only 10 years ago, and today only about 50% of all bottles are now recycled. But other plastics, such as dark plastic ready meal trays, yoghurt pots and protective film, have proved a challenge to recycle, not helped by varying local recycling facilities and compounded by confusing consumer advice to householders. There are also strict rules on re-use, which means that packaging outside food cannot be recycled to provide packaging for food products.
Coca-Cola are heavily involving themselves in the UK’s recycling push, following on from their pledge to recycle Coca-Cola pledge to Recycle all Plactis Bottles at London 2012 Olympics.
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