UPM Inaugurates MRF at its UK Paper Mill

The Finnish paper company UPM has opened a material recovery facility (MRF) by its Shotton, U.K. paper mill. The company invested an estimated £17 million (US$27.2 million) to build the facility, which includes a sorting system supplied by Machinex, Plessisville, Quebec. The Welsh government provided £1.7 million in funding for the project.

UPM CEO Jussi Pesonen and Pekka Huhtaniemi, Finland’s ambassador to the United Kingdom were on hand for the official opening of the MRF.

UPM says that when fully operational, the MRF will have the capacity of sorting 270,000 metric tonnes of recyclables per year. The company adds that the MRF has been designed to achieve a 99 percent recovery rate, which the company claims is the highest recovery rate in the United Kingdom.

UPM says the facility has the latest sorting and screening equipment on the market. The MRF is expected to provide 120,000 metric tons of high quality paper to its Shotton mill.

At the official opening, Pesonen said, “The MRF clearly demonstrates how integrated manufacturing can work. We are working hard to maximize reuse and minimize waste. The UPM Shotton site is a clear example of our Biofore vision and strategy in action.” Currently, 90 percent of UPM’s production waste is reused or recycled.

Huhtaniemi remarked, “UPM has created a fantastic facility here on their Shotton site. Not only is the technology impressive but also the motivated workforce. In addition to their renewable energy power plant, UPM Shotton is a good example of Cleantech thinking.”

The facility is capable of sorting six types of plastic as well as metals, paper and glass. UPM’s Shotton paper mill produces 100 percent recycled-content newsprint. The company adds that it is the largest manufacturer of 100 percent recycled newsprint in the U.K., recycling 640,000 metric tons per year.