1m Investment in Optical Sorting at Viridor Polymer Recycling Facility in UK

UK waste and recycling firm, Viridor has invested over £1million in a new flake optical sorting station on the HDPE line of its polymer recycling facility in Skelmersdale. According to the company, a part of the Pennon Group (LSE: PNN), the new technology has increased the Viridor Polymer Recycling plant’s yield of valuable and high quality HDPE 'natural' (blow mould grade) for colour-critical applications. Viridor explained that the Skelmersdale facility currently recycles around 3000 tonnes of plastic bottles each month, from its local authority contracts and other private customers, and produces highest quality plastic pellets and flakes ready for use in remanufacture. The company added that the new flake sorter centres around two state-of-the-art optical sorters which accurately remove non-natural HDPE flakes; typically between 2mm and 12mm in size, in the HDPE product stream at a throughput rate of two tonnes per hour. The optical sorting station was supplied by Swiss equipment manufacturer, Bühler Sortex, which also supplied other technology at the polymer recycling facility. The equipment is designed to produce a high purity natural HDPE and a coloured HDPE that can be compounded into black pellet. “The leading edge optical sorting station is able to cope with dramatic fluctuations in inputs as required; whilst keeping the output consistent,” explained Alex Vaks, sales engineer at Bühler. Stuart Kershaw, trading sales manager for plastics at Viridor added: “The investment in this advanced flake sorting station came as a result of a UK market requirement for a consistent volume of HDPE natural compound.” “This can be used for a variety of colour critical extrusion/blow moulding applications, including but not limited to conduit, sheet, wood polymer composite and bottles,” he continued. According to Kershaw, the plant is now producing 500 tonnes of the HDPE natural product each month, adding to the volumes of HDPE black & PET clear flake. “As a business, Viridor is aiming to reduce export reliance with a focus on providing high quality polymer for use within the demanding UK market,” he concluded. Gary Welsh, general manager at Viridor’s polymer recycling facility added: “Advanced recycling facilities such as the plant at Skelmersdale require continuous review to meet the demands of a changing market for quality recyclate products.” “This new piece of equipment is changing what we do as a business and adding to our product range so that we can flex to meet the needs of our customers,” added Walsh. Read More UK Missing Out on Biofuel Opportunities Due to Lack of Clear Policy The UK is losing out on investment and jobs due to the government’s lack of a clear policy framework for sustainable biofuels, according to the Renewable Energy Association. Recycling & Waste Reduction High on New McDonald’s CSR Framework McDonald's has pledged to increase recycling from its restaurants, as well as the use of recycled materials at its restaurants, in its first Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Framework. Dublin’s 550,000 TPA Poolbeg Waste to Energy Plant Given All Clear by EU A series of measures by the Dublin local authorities in Ireland to participate in the Poolbeg waste to energy project have been found to be in line with the EU state aid rules.