UK Agency Funds Research on Recycling Deinked Sludge

The Waste Resources Action Program, a UK-based government-based entity, has awarded a two-year research project to study the possible use of deinked recycled paper mill sludge.

WRAP commissioned the research program to explore the performance characteristics of paper mill sludge, manufacturing requirements and end market applications.

“The aim of the research was to demonstrate the technical and commercial feasibility of recycling a waste material to manufacture products that meet the necessary standards and to provide prospective manufacturers with robust evidence of the technical capability of PMR and the likely markets,” explains Jacks Guinness, WRAP’s Materials Project Officer for Paper.

 “This project has taken forward a number of innovative ideas to use what would otherwise be a waste material to produce some promising functional products with good mechanical strengths,” said Vahik Enjily, director of BRE’s Centre for Timber Technology & Construction.

Rob Elias, commercial manager of Bangor’s BioComposites Centre, notes, “The technical barriers for the recycling of paper mill waste have now been addressed and the new products offer great potential in the construction market. Further optimization may be needed in some cases, but this is something that can now to be addressed working closely with a commercial partner and WRAP.”