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Commercial Scale Mixed Plastics Trials
We were commissioned by WRAP to assess in detail the business case for an integrated mixed plastics waste management solution in the UK
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The project investigated the challenges for Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in segregating mixed plastics. It also identified the issues involved for Plastics Recovery Facilities (PRFs) to sort mixed plastics by polymer type to a sufficient standard to meet end market specifications.
To carry out a commercial scale trial evaluating 48 hours worth of an MRF operation sorting mixed plastics from a domestic co-mingled stream and then further sorting by polymer type at a PRF. This included:
- trials and analysis at three UK MRFs
- trials at a PRF
- in-feed and product composition analysis
- comparison of MRF sorting and separation systems
- The trials proved that recycling of mixed plastics in the UK is technically and economically viable on a commercial scale
- The project provided information on process requirements for effective and sustainable mixed plastics packaging processing
- The trials proved that the inclusion of mixed plastics with other dry recyclate materials did not adversely affect the quality of the other product streams
In addition to meeting its objective of investigating the technical and economic feasibility of mixed plastic processing, the study provided valuable composition data for processing facilities receiving a variety of plastic types. Also, it usefully illuminated the significant impacts that processing through MRFs and PRFs can have on material availability. A very worthwhile study supporting future development in this important sector.