RWM baler helps process decommissioned plastic scrap

United Kingdom-based nuclear research organisation National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) has installed a baler purchased from Riverside Waste Machinery (RWM) to help it process plastic scrap generated at decommissioned nuclear industry sites.

NNL engages in nuclear research, technical development, reactor operations support and decommissioning services for nuclear facilities in the U.K.

The company acquired the RWM baler for its site in Sellafield, U.K., which engages in waste and residue management and recycling.

“We’re committed to ensuring maximum recycling rates, as well as safe and compliant waste handling,” says NNL Sellafield Building Manager Darren Shaw. “We were therefore already salvaging used plastic containers [that] had previously housed nonactive hazardous waste, before packing around 25 of them into IBC (intermediate bulk container) drums.”

He continues, “But we thought we could make the process even more efficient before sending the IBC drums away for treatment and recycling.”

Shaw says research he began in the spring of 2016 led him to Boroughbridge, U.K.-based Riverside Waste Machinery. Riverside’s Managing Director Jonathan Oldfield says he thoroughly audited NNL’s waste handling processes before recommending an RWM 60HD (heavy-duty) baler.

Shaw visited Riverside’s North Yorkshire headquarters to trial test the RWM 60HD using NNL’s own materials. With its high compression force, the baler handled NNL’s used plastic containers with ease, achieving a 3:1 compaction ratio, according to RWM.

“I was very impressed with this robust machine – it’s clearly engineered to handle even the toughest of recyclables,” says Shaw. “Riverside’s professionalism also stood out – the team was only too happy to answer our questions and share advice to ensure we continually work smarter.”

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RWM says its balers are “designed for utmost operator safety and fitted with an emergency stop button,” features that helped it pass NNL’s PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998) assessment with flying colours. Riverside also manufactured a stainless steel container to sit under the baler and collect any excess residue discharged during the baling process.

Says Shaw, “Due to the power of this heavy-duty machine, we can now fit at least 75 plastic containers into each IBC drum. Because we pay our waste contractor according to the volume of our ‘waste,’ not the weight, we are now achieving a 66% cost saving. It’s brilliant – the baler will have paid for itself in no time at all and more efficient vehicle loads will benefit the environment too!”