Designed and built by Dutch recycling technology company the Bollegraaf Group, the plant can handle 40 tonnes per shift.
AGIR reported that it has already reached peaks of 70 tonnes, with scope for further increases. According to the processer, this is the largest PET sorting facility in Switzerland.
Benedikt Bader, Operational Manager and Head of PET Recycling at AGIR, said: “Thanks to Bollegraaf’s efficient layout and engineering, we are operating beyond expectations – and we still have capacity to grow.
“Our goal is to maintain a closed-loop system in Switzerland, ensuring that each bottle is returned to the market as a new recycled PET product.”
This venture transitions AGIR into the plastics recycling industry, having traditionally been focused on gravel extraction and concrete production.
PET recycling in Switzerland
The facility supports the national PET-Recycling Schweiz scheme, which centrally manages PET bottle collection in Switzerland.
Switzerland does not operate a deposit return system, but an 83% recycling rate has been achieved through voluntary returns at supermarkets and local collection points.
Once collected, material is sent to AGIR for processing. The company said the plant is also designed to handle future shifts in packaging, including the possible move from HDPE to PET for milk bottles, without major changes to its set-up.
Bollegraaf partnership
According to AGIR, Bollegraaf was chosen to partner due to its strategy’s streamlined logistics, space-efficient layout and reduce conveyor usage.
The Dutch company announced it was adding a new Two-Ram baler to its waste baling equipment portfolio earlier this year.
Bollegraaf also partnered with Greyparrot in 2024, which saw the former transfer over its AI vision business and invest $12.8 million (£10.1 million) into Greyparrot.
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