The plant at Ellesmere Port is the third site operated by the Kirkby-in-Ashfield-based company able to automatically separate mixed glass into separate colours. (see letsrecycle.com story)
Using optical sorting technology from US firm MSS, Recresco has already started to take 30 tonnes of glass an hour from local authorities and businesses in Manchester, Northern England and the Midlands.
John Ferguson, development manager at Recresco, said: “We think this is one of the most modern and most efficient sorting plants in the UK. The advantage is that we can sort all colours of glass quickly and cost effectively. We can sort clear, amber and green glass in one pass.”
Recresco, previously known as Midland Glass, puts glass through a hopper where it is graded and de-contaminated before being sorted as it falls.
Mr Ferguson explained that less than 4% of what Recresco received was wasted or ended up as aggregates, which have been criticised for using excess energy to process.
He said: “The plant allows local authorities to collect mixed glass in the knowledge that it won't end up in the roads. There seems to be a growing demand to collect mixed glass as it is easier for local authorities and waste contractors to collect.”
Quinn
The Ellesmere Port site also enables glass to be transported by ship to customers abroad and brings the sorting operation closer to Recresco' partners in Northern England. In particular, it is located 15 minutes away from the Quinn Glass reprocessing plant, which is one of the most modern glass bottle manufacturing operations in Europe.
Alison Hunter, waste policy manager for Vale Royal borough council, has visited both sites as part of the North West Recycling Forum. She said: “This is one of the most interesting and useful visits the group has undertaken and much has been gained in being able to see glass processed from sorting through to final bottle production.”
Subscribe for free