Dutch plastics recycler expands processing capabilities

New line expands the type of plastic scrap Van Werven can handle.

The Dutch plastics recycling company Van Werven has added a plastics recycling line at its facility in Biddinghuizen, Netherlands, allowing it to handle a greater variety of rigid plastics.

In a news release announcing the expansion, Ton van der Giessen, Van Werven managing director, says, "Even more valuable raw materials are preserved by this line.”

He continues, “We see more and more different types of materials used in the market. For example, technical plastics ABS/PS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/polystyrene) and products made from recycled PE-PP (polyethylene-polypropylene) plastics which contain additional minerals. To be able to properly recycle these streams, a new method is needed. The new recycling technology is fully focused on this. As a result, Van Werven can sell more different products and offer suppliers the highest possible recycling percentage.”

Van der Giessen adds, “China has closed the borders for plastic waste, and Van Werven can utilize this. By closing the borders, we are able to grow our capacity. Our aim is to close the cycle locally as much as possible.”

The new plastics recycling line is the fifth the company has opened in less than one year, doubling its recycling capacity. Van Werven also operates plastics recycling lines at facilities in Lanaken, Belgium; Winjegem, Netherlands; and Selby, U.K. It also has joint venture operations in Dublin; Ballymena, Northern Ireland; Sexdrega, Sweden; and Gromadka, Poland.

The company’s recycling capacity in Biddinghuizen has grown by 30 percent to 65 million kilos, or 143 million pounds.

The new line in Biddinghuizen follows on the heels of Van Werven’s opening of a plastics recycling facility in Gromadka, Poland, this spring. That project is a joint venture between Van Werven and the Polish company Plastic Worx. While the Polish plant will process scrap plastics collected primarily in Germany initially, the company plans to process more plastic scrap generated in Poland.

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