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Site Zero ready to beef up SPR’s recycling

Photo: Shutterstock

On 15 November, Swedish Plastic Recycling (SPR) will commence operations at its upgraded plastics recycling facility in Motala, Sweden known as Site Zero.

The 60 000 square metre unit, which boasts 60 near infrared red-sensors, laser and camera technology, sorts and recycles 12 types of material from the 200 000 tonnes of post-consumer scrap received per year. SPR has invested one billion Swedish Krona (EUR 83.8 million) in the upgrade.

Whereas the company’s original facility at Motala handled four types of plastic, the upgraded site will process polypropylene (PP), PP film, HDPE, LDPE, PET, polystyrene (PS), expanded PS, PVC, two grades of polyolefin mix, metal and non-plastic scrap.

Site Zero is powered by renewable energy and SPR says the facility will be ‘completely climate neutral with zero emissions.’ Any waste that cannot be recycled on site will be processed through carbon capture and storage (CCS). This process involves the separation, treatment, and long-term storage of carbon dioxide generated when waste materials are burned. The company plans to install solar panels on the roof, although it has not indicated when that may happen.

The facility has undergone testing ahead of its opening and ceo Mattias Philipsson says it has exceeded all expectations. ‘We are now entering a new era of plastic recycling. This plant will be the driving force for the transition that needs to be made worldwide to significantly reduce climate impact and the need for fossil plastic raw materials, and to make plastics part of the circular economy.’

Results from the testing phase will be released at a press conference during the facility’s inauguration ceremony in November. The company has announced plans for a second phase at Site Zero which will enable washing and granulation on site.

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