In January 2010 the facility was awarded £1.187 million in funding by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), following WRAP research which demonstrated not only the environmental benefits, but also the commercial and technological viability for mixed plastics recycling.
Commenting on the opening, Marcus Gover, Director of Market Development at WRAP said: "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."
Located in Redcar, Middlesbrough, the company claims the facility to be the first of its kind in the UK, enabling mixed plastics to be sorted, washed and processed into a reusable high grade commodity.
The facility will process 15,000 tonnes of mixed plastics per year from April 2011, building up to the full capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year by April 2012.
Plastics from Biffa's Materials Recovery Facilities, as well as local authorities and commercial customers in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland will be processed at the site.
According to the company, the plastics are sorted by polymer type and colour, and then processed to produce a high quality output which is suitable for a wide range of end uses - where the environmental benefits are unlocked by replacing virgin plastic.
Waste and Recycling Minister Lord Henley explained that the technology employed at the facility will make it easier for more people to participate in recycling schemes: "Biffa's innovative technology will make life easier for families who've puzzled over recycling their yoghurt tubs and food trays."
Examples of new products include paint trays, plant pots, storage boxes, pallets, bottles, car parts, office furniture and kitchenware.
In addition, Biffa said that some of the output will be processed through its food grade HDPE recycling facility at the same site and go back into the manufacture of new milk bottles.
Biffa Polymers managing director Martin Marron said: "Following the success of being the first company in the UK to produce food grade recycled HDPE plastic which is used to make new milk bottles, Biffa Polymers is delighted to be once again at the forefront of the recycling industry. We believe in pushing the boundaries to find the best solutions for plastic recycling in the UK."
PT_Source: waste-management-world.com
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