European plastic bottle recycler Eco Plastics has announced a £24 million expansion to its
Hemswell plant as part of plans to double British production of food-grade recycled material.
Eco Plastics’ Hemswell facility is already considered the largest and most sophisticated recycling plant in Europe. After the modifications have been carried out, the plant will increase its overall processing capacity from 100,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes of plastic bottles per year – just under half the total collected in the UK last year.
Funding
Funds for the expansion will be provided by new banking facilities, Ludgate Environmental Fund Limited and Coca Cola Enterprises, which Eco Plastics entered into a joint venture with in March.
Coca-Cola like many other food and drink brands and retailers are looking to recycle more of their plastics in the most sustainable ways possible. The Hemswell plant, which opened in November 2010, is able to recycle plastics that are 68 per cent less carbon-intensive than packaging made from virgin materials.
“This represents an important milestone for both the drinks manufacturing industry and the recycling industry,” Peter Gangsted, chairman of Eco Plastics, said. “We are delighted that the markets have recognised the value of this model. The UK sustainable packaging market has huge growth potential and our expansion will make Eco Plastics a world leader.”
The expansion of the plant, which was approved in May, will be completed during 2012.
Like this story? Please subscribe to our free weekly e-newsletter at the top of the page for more content like this.
Source : www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk
