WRAP makes black plastics recycling breakthrough

Despite more than 300,000 tonnes of plastic packaging being collected for recycling each year, more than a million tonnes still ends up going to landfill because of the difficulty of collecting and recycling films, the difficulty in detecting and sorting black plastics and the lack of high value markets for non-bottle plastics.

But, a series of trials funded by WRAP have for the first time identified methods of recycling black plastics, complex laminated plastics, plastic films, and polypropylene (PP) that would typically be destined for landfill.

For example, by using non-carbon pigments in the manufacture of black plastics, it is possible to create a material that is almost identical in colour, but can be identified by the optical sorting equipment used by many MRFs. This could lead to the widespread recycling of the most common plastic used in packaging, says WRAP, which adds that feedback from retailers has been encouraging, and the plastic trays could be recycled into high value single-polymer materials. Click here for the full report.

Complex laminated packaging, the material used in toothpaste and cosmetics tubes, contains a layer of aluminium sandwiched between plastic, and a second trial has identified a way to extract this high value aluminium. WRAP estimates that there is around 140,000 tonnes of this laminated packaging in the UK waste stream with an aluminium content of around 13,500 tonnes.

A third study has seen the development of a technique that could recycle post-consumer PP back in to material suitable for food-grade applications. More work is still needed, but WRAP believes this could help to grow high value markets for recycled PP, following a similar path to that developed by rHDPE and rPET. It could also deliver higher environmental benefits as retailers and brands start to use it in their packaging.

Film

Meanwhile, work done by The Co-operative Group and Sainsburys in conjunction with WRAP has identified a variety of uses for plastic films recycled in-store by customers and staff. These applications include bags for life, in-store signage and external cladding.

A system has also been developed that cleans and recycles contaminated film, producing a pellet which WRAP says has a sales value of 400 to 500 per tonne. With the cost of sending this material to landfill currently 80 per tonne, WRAP claims the advantages of recycling this material are clear.

Marcus Gover, director of closed loop economy at WRAP, said: When we first looked at recycling non-bottle plastic packaging back in 2007, we carried out detailed studies to make sure it would be technically and economical viable.

We also carried out a thorough life-cycle assessment to make sure it was the best environmental option. Were now seeing this recycling becoming a reality, creating jobs and re-invigorating the manufacturing industry in the UK reducing our reliance on exports.

There have been, and there are still, barriers to overcome and WRAP will continue to work closely with the industry to develop these new methods and technologies so that, in the future, local authorities can offer their residents a way of recycling even more of their plastic packaging.