The scheme is intended to demonstrate that aluminium can be recovered from the material for recycling.
Around £188,000 has been secured from Defra’s Action Based Research programme for the trial, which is being coordinated by consultancy firm Anthesis LRS. The trial is also being supported by Nestlé UK & Ireland and Coca-Cola Enterprises.
The nine month trials, which commenced last month, are being carried out across the Bracknell Forest, Calderdale and Hounslow council areas.
The collections and initial sorting are being managed by SUEZ environnement with technology developers Enval to recycle the material at its demonstration facility at the Alconbury Enterprise Zone, near Huntingdon. The facility uses ‘microwave-induced pyrolysis technology’ to capture the material.
Collection
Up to 260 households in each local authority area have been provided with appropriate communications, a caddy and caddy bags to participate in kerbside collections for the nine month trial.
In Bracknell Forest the target material is being collected in the caddy bags from participating households on the same day as their fortnightly comingled recycling.
Selected households in the Sowerby Bridge area of Calderdale are taking part with the target material being collected as part of its weekly kerbside-sorted recycling collections.
A collection point has also been installed at the Sowerby Bridge Household Recycling Centre, providing access to participate for all Calderdale residents.
In the London borough of Hounslow, households across Chiswick Riverside, Hounslow West, Syon, Heston West and Feltham West were engaged and encouraged to opt in to participate, using communications materials and door canvassing. Target material is being collected from participating households as part of its weekly kerbside-sorted recycling collections.
‘Widespread’
Dee Moloney, director, Anthesis LRS, said: “Flexible laminated packaging, such as food and drink pet food pouches, is becoming increasingly widespread and the global market is anticipated to continue to grow year on year. Therefore, if these trials prove that viable collection, sorting and recycling schemes can be implemented, it will support the increased flow of materials into the secondary markets, establishing another step towards a more circular economy in the UK.”
Resource management minister Dan Rogerson said: “Defra is pleased to support this project, which is part of the government’s wider approach to enabling businesses to be more sustainable.
“I look forward to seeing the results of these innovative studies which could lead to us extracting more value from our resources, saving energy and supporting further growth in the UK’s recycling and remanufacturing industries. Together this will build a fairer society and stronger economy.”
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