Reichmuth Infrastructure investment in facility to reprocess wash and extrusion to produce new bottle packaging.
Clean infrastructure investors, Reichmuth Infrastructure, has announced plans to finance the construction of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic recycling facility in Plastic Park at Protos, Ellesmere Port.
The European company will be partnering with PET recycling specialists, Enviroo, who will be responsible for developing and operating the plant, which will begin construction in the second quarter of 2025, with production scheduled to start at the end of 2026.
The facility will employ Enviroo’s technical expertise, to flake and wash the sorted PET, then transfer to an extruder for pelletisation, which can be integrated with virgin PET or used independently in beverage bottle production.
Reichmuth Infrastructure’s investment will include a fixed supply and purchase agreement for a large part of the plant’s production.
"The recycling of PET bottles is an excellent example of our investment approach in sustainable infrastructure," Stefan Hasenböhler, Head of Infrastructure at Reichmuth & Co., commented. “Through these co-operations, we are creating a genuine recycling loop from bottle to bottle.”
Enviroo’s Founder and CEO, Ahmed Detta, added: “We are excited to partner with Reichmuth Infrastructure, who shares our vision for a truly circular, closed-loop solution to the UK's plastic waste challenge. Together, we look forward to the plant's operation, contributing to the country's ambitious recycling targets, and making a meaningful impact in reducing plastic waste.”
Currently, the UK recycles around 63 per cent of plastic bottles, with an estimated 7.7 billion being used each year. However, the government is aiming for a recycling target of 75 per cent of packaging materials by 2030, coupled with an effort to ban waste exports for disposal in foreign countries.
Discussing how the plant will support UK recycling infrastructure, Richard Barker, Development Director at Peel NRE, developers of Plastic Park at Protos, said: “Enviroo’s arrival at Protos marks a major step towards making our ‘Plastic Parks’ vision a reality. By bringing world-class recycling infrastructure to the UK, we’re creating a hub where plastic waste is transformed into valuable resources – supporting a circular economy.”
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There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.