Biffa keeps an Eye on record recycling target
5 May 2021
Waste processing giant Biffa has set itself the target of quadrupling plastic recycling capacity at its Aldrige facility in the North East by the end of the decade.
The firm is already on course to double its previous recycling capacity at the site. Aldridge presently handles 80,000 tonnes annually – the equivalent, it says of 38 times the weight of the London Eye.
Chief operating officer for Biffa’s recourses and energy division, Mick Davis said:
“Doubling the amount of materials we can recycle at one of the country’s largest plastic recycling facilities (PRFs) is great news both for Biffa and the UK as a whole. It means more recycling can happen on our own shores and creates sustainable materials that can be used in manufacturing.
“The additional capacity is a significant investment in our business within the North East and further establishes Biffa as a leader in in closed-loop plastic recycling.”
PRFs provide raw materials for production, with the Aldridge PRF is a multifunctional facility handling plastic bottles and containers, aluminium and steel cans, plus glass Bottles and Jars
Together with partner Turmecit has installed cutting edge Pellenc Optical Sorters to sort the materials.
Plastic grades from the Aldridge facility will be used to feed Biffa’s new and existing polymers facilities. Aldridge will have the technology to produce a high grade PET Natural for Biffa’s £27.5 million Seaham, County Durham.
A leader in plastic recycling, Biffa built the UK's first food grade PET closed loop plastic recycling facility in Seaham last year, converting plastic recycling into pellets to be sold on to drinks makers and other manufactures for a range of uses.
It recently announced a partnership with Nestlé Waters UK to make every bottles more recyclable, using 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) produced at Seaham. Plastic bottles are recycled into pellets subsequently used to create new bottles.
