Plastics recycling in the UK could take a major step forward in part due to a research project announced today. The project will investigate processes for recycling post-consumer PET plastic bottles, with the aim of developing a more efficient system for the production of food-grade PET. If successful, the work could help secure a food-grade plastics recycling facility for the UK.
The research is being funded by the Waste & Resources Programme. The work will be led by Closed Loop London in collaboration with London Remade and plastics experts from universities and reprocessors. The project will use locally sourced waste PET bottles and investigate efficient and cost effective methods of recycling through a series of small and large scale trials.
Rob Pascoe, managing director of Closed Loop London, noted that the project aims to develop a method to reduce the scrap plastic processing costs by around 20 percent, making it a more viable market for the UK.”
The United Kingdom currently produces about 200,000 metric ton of PET bottles. Only 15,000 metric tons are collected for recycling in the UK and overseas. If the costs of reprocessing this material can be reduced, and a UK facility provided, it will make the market more viable and help local authorities to implement cost effective plastics recycling services.
Contracts have been signed and the trials have begun. The project will be completed by May 2005 and the results made publicly available.