UK Recycler Invests in Process to Boost Recovered Fiber Quality

Printwaste Recycling & Shredding, based in the United Kingdom, has invested more than $153,000 in sorting equipment to boost the quality of the recovered fiber in processes.

The recycling facility, located in Stoke Orchard near Cheltenham, processes around six metric tons per hour of old newspaper and old magazines from curbside collection programs throughout the U.K.

The new sorting facility includes a handpicking section that visually checks for any contaminants, such as card, cans, polythene bags, glass and plastic bottles, which are removed for recycling.

According to Printwaste, this procedure results in a cleaner news stream that is acceptable to Aylesford Newsprint, a recycled newsprint mill located in Kent, U.K.

“Aylesford approached us for a solution as they were already aware of the high-quality service we could provide in supplying waste paper to their exact specification. Without further cleaning, the material would be unrecyclable due to higher levels of contamination from other household waste items,” says Don Robins, Printwaste’s managing director.

“Thanks to this investment, we can offer ‘best practice’ closed-loop recycling in supplying the highest quality feedstock. With an annual processing capacity of 15,000 metric tons or more, we are anticipating further demand and investing in the future. Newspapers and magazines can be recycled up to seven times, conserving valuable energy and water resources that are needed to turn wood into paper,” says Robins.