Alternative Waste Solutions (AWS) is to order the processing equipment in December for its existing plant in Hemswell Cliff, North Lincolnshire, which will enable it to make pellets suitable for use in food grade packaging within the next 12 months.
Our suppliers are very keen to have their material reprocessed in the UK rather than going abroad.
Jonathan Short, AWS
The company, which has its headquarters in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, will be processing both PET – used in soft drinks bottles – and HDPE – used in milk bottles – back into material suitable for use in plastic bottles and other food packaging.
Managing director Jonathan Short said: “We expect to be placing orders for equipment in the middle of December 2007 and selling food grade PET and HDPE product into the market by the fourth quarter of next year.”
AWS is also installing an additional sorting line which will allow it to reprocess a minimum of 60,000 tonnes of mixed plastic bottles each year – an increase on its present rate which is around 25,000 tonnes. Approximately two thirds of the 60,000 tonnes will be processed to a material of high enough quality to be used in food grade applications.
Mr Short said the specific type of technology to be used was being kept under wraps but that it would include various mechanical processes, two hot wash lines and two large extrusion units.
AWS presently sends the majority of its finished product out as flakes but the new investment will also include two large extruders to convert the plastic flake into pellets.
Sorting
Although AWS doubling its sorting capacity, Mr Short said the company is not concerned about its supply of plastic bottles.
He said: “We currently source all of our bottle feedstock from the UK. Our suppliers are very keen to have their material reprocessed in the UK rather than going abroad. However, if there were to be a shortage of material in the UK, we would buy from abroad via our trading arm. Accessing the bottles is not an issue.”
All of the company's feedstock is mixed post-consumer plastic bottles, which is collected by waste management companies and local authorities from kerbside. The company presently sends out six streams of material to manufacturers.
These include natural HDPE, mixed colour HDPE, mixed colour PET and a blend of PET, which is 80% natural and 20% blue.
There is also a residual mixed plastic grade – including PVC and polypropylene- as well as metal cans, both of which are baled and sent to reprocessors.
Much of the flaked PET goes to manufacturers for use in items such as clothes, duvets and car insulation and the HDPE is used mainly used to make retail carrier bags.
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