Washing Waste Helps UK Plastics Industry
Wednesday 22nd February 2006
In the first two years of operation the plastics shredding machine installed by print waste collection and recycling specialists J&G Environmental has enabled over 500 tonnes of granulated HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic, equivalent to half a million containers, to be recycled.
Although most of the material went to UK plastics processors, granules resulting from the shredding of contaminated containers have had to be sent abroad for cleaning and recycling.
But this is no longer necessary. J&G Environmental have become one of the first UK companies to add a dedicated washing system to the plastics shredding machine installed at their Blandford plant.
J&G managing director Steve Armstrong said: "This important addition to the company's capability means that virtually every container collected can be decontaminated if necessary, granulated and sent direct to UK plastics companies to be turned into a wide range of useful products such as drainage pipes.
"Recycling plastic containers is of major benefit to the environment as it reduces the UK's use of virgin HDPE plastics as well as the number of contaminated containers going to landfill."
The shredder is also used to shred unwanted wooden pallets, turning them into chippings for use in the chipboard industry.
