The UK’s first sorting and recycling facility for mixed plastics will begin processing this April.
The
recycling plant in
Redcar, Middlesbrough, will process thousands of tonnes of recyclables, simplifying the recycling process for homeowners, by allowing families to send all their plastics to the facility where they will then be sorted, washed and processed.
The plant, a joint venture between Biffa Polymers and the not-for-profit Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), will process 15,000 tonnes of recyclables, from Biffa MRFs, local authorities and Biffa customers from throughout Britain. Next year, the facility will move up to its maximum capacity of processing 20,000 tonnes per year.
"Biffa’s innovative
technology will make life easier for families who’ve puzzled over recycling their yoghurt tubs and food trays," said Waste and Recycling Minister Lord Henley.
Plastic waste
In the UK, over 1.5 million tonnes of plastic packaging are thrown out each year. Only half of all plastic bottles are recycled, and most other rigid plastics end up in landfills. The new facility is looking to change that.
After the plastics are sorted and processed, they can be made into a variety of new products, such as paint trays, car parts, and office furniture, among others, all of which keep unnecessary
waste out of landfills.
"WRAP is delighted that the Redcar facility is now open and demonstrating that it is commercially viable to recycle mixed plastics and that there are real end markets for the high value, quality outputs," said Marcus Gover, WRAP director of market development.
After seeing the potential environmental benefits and the viability of the programme, WRAP contributed nearly £1.2 million in funding in January 2010 in order to get the facility up and running.
"Recycling mixed plastics adds value to the UK economy by transforming a waste into a usable, commercial product, retaining the value rather than allowing it to end up in landfill."
Employment
The facility will also help boost the green economy by creating 28 jobs in the northeast.
"Not only will this
investment help households and businesses who want to recycle more, but it also gives a welcomed boost to green jobs in the North East," said Lord Henley. "It’s part of green growth — making valuable resources available again to the economy."
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