Bottle crushing boost for glass recycling

The company has developed a piece of equipment called the Little Smasher which takes around 15-20 bottles of different colours, including wine and beer, into its top-loading hopper and smashes them in less than six seconds. This is said to reduce the volume of the bottles by 80%.

The Little Smasher is smaller than a dishwasher and is designed to fit into small spaces beside crates and bins. Smash & Grab's collection crew will collect the material from the device before it is full and will tailor collection rounds to suit its customers.

End markets

The company based in London, started up last June and was initially collecting an amount of glass equivalent to 200 tonnes-a-year. This has now increased to 800 tonnes.

The compacted glass is presently sent for use in aggregates and roadfill but Smash & Grab is in talks with glass reprocessors in the hope they might take the material for use in the bottle recycling process.

Managing director Geoffrey Galitzine said: “We would love to close the loop properly and turn the cullet back into glass bottles.”

The company needs to collect around 2,500 tonnes of material per annum to make this viable and Mr Galitzine believes this is possible it has experienced rapid expansion in the last six months, after its first six months were spent testing and refining the equipment.

Funding

Smash & Grab, which has nine employees, has been helped by the Enhance programme, an initiative delivered by London Remade and London Community Recycling Network, which both help develop the capital's market for recycled goods. It is also supported by London Mayor Ken Livingstone's development organisation, the London Development Agency

The scheme's Enhance Capital Fund has just awarded a £50,000 grant to Smash & Grab so the firm can purchase a new vehicle – at the moment it uses two hired trucks.

Its new seven-and-a-half truck, manufactured to meet the company's exact requirements, will help it on its way to collecting the necessary 2,500 tonnes required to manufacture glass bottles.

London Remade's senior project manager Kate Nelson, said: “Smash & Grab is an innovative company making a big impact on recycling within the hospitality sector. With our help, through the Enhance programme, the company is now experiencing strong demand for its services.”