Tetra Pak UK invests in sorting tech

Tetra Pak has upgraded food and beverage carton sorting capabilities at J&B Recycling’s materials recycling facility in Hartlepool, UK. The facility now features the latest robotic sorting system by Recycleye.

Tetra Pak covered the production and installation of two robotic arms at J&B’s recycling plant. This upgrade will enable the recycler to increase the sorting of food and beverage across:

• Newcastle City Council
• Sunderland City Council
• North Tyneside Council
• Hartlepool Council
• Hull Council

Wide investment

Two other UK recycling facilities have received a similar investment to upgrade their packaging sorting technology. This brings Tetra Pak’s total investment in UK sorting infrastructure in 2025 to £1.4 million (EUR 1.6 million). More upgrades will follow in the second half of this year. 

This project is part of Tetra Pak’s wider annual commitment of over £34 million (EUR 40 million) per year to expand food and beverage carton collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure globally, in collaboration with stakeholders across the value chain.

This investment proceeds the introduction of the government’s Simpler Recycling policy for households in March 2026. Tetra Pak assisted the government in the development of the policy which offers carton kerbside collection to everyone in England.

Circular commitment

‘Today’s announcement of the robotic arm installation at J&B Recycling demonstrates our commitment to improving the UK’s recycling infrastructure,’ says Awantika Chadha, sustainability manager at Tetra Pak UK.

‘We’re excited to be working with Tetra Pak, ACE UK and MRFs across the UK such as J&B Recycling to improve the effectiveness of food and beverage carton sorting,’ comments Recycleye ceo Victor Dewulf. ‘We believe that technology is a crucial part of the solution to improve recycling systems – and our robotic arm has a track record of improving carton sorting for waste streams.’

And he adds: ‘It has been a smooth retrofit with minimum disruption at site to install these two robotic arms and quickly start recovering food and beverage cartons. We are looking forward to supporting the industry further.’