Veolia leads on UK PET tray recycling

Veolia is building its biggest plastics recycling project in the UK, the country’s first closed-loop PET tray-to-tray facility.

The £70 million (EUR 81 million) scheme at Battlefield, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire will be operational by early 2026. Veolia says it has used its leading expertise in the field to introduce the technology to the UK household waste recycling industry.

The facility will crush, wash and flake PET plastic from trays and bottles to deliver new, low-carbon, food-grade packaging, supporting the UK food industry. It is expected to process around 80 000 tonnes of plastics per year.

Macron visit

The iniative was announced during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to the UK. Other Veolia investments underway in the UK include the extension of a district heating network to 5 000 homes in London and the treatment and recovery of solvents and other hazardous waste.

Veolia ceo Estelle Brachlianoff called the PET announcement a significant milestone for the UK recycling industry and is a key pillar of Veolia’s ‘GreenUp’ plan to promote sustainable resource management.

Pioneer

‘By becoming the first company in the UK to recycle PET trays through a closed-loop process, we are strengthening our position as a leader and pioneer in the circular economy. This innovative facility not only enables us to deliver on our commitment to reducing waste and carbon emissions but also helps us meet the growing demand for efficient recycling as the UK’s “Simpler Recycling” legislation comes into force.’