Nappy recycling takes first steps in UK
Canadian firm Knowaste has opened a facility in West Bromwich, England, to recycle 36,000 tonnes a year of nappies, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products. The facility is part of a £25 million investment from the company into the UK and aims to produce valuable by-products from the one million tonnes of absorbent hygiene products (AHP) produced in the country each year. Waste will be delivered to the site for processing by local, regional and national commercial waste operators, who will pay a gate fee - reported to be competitive to current landfill costs including taxes - for disposal. The process involves sterilising the AHP material, deactivating and mechanically separating individual components, including organic residue, plastic and super absorbent polymers. Reclaimed components can then be made into recycled products such as plastic wood, plastics roofing tiles, absorption materials, process sweeteners, recycled paper products and green energy, according to the firm. More information about the nappy recycling technology can be found here.