38
WEEE KNOW HOW
Experts in WEEE Engineering
www.urt-recycling.com
DIFFERENT TREATMENT CONCEPTS FOR:
❯ FRIDGES AND ACs
❯ TONER CARTRIDGES
❯ PLASTICS FROM E-SCRAP
❯ CATHODE RAY TUBES
❯ PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
❯ SMALL DOMESTIC APPLIANCES AND IT
❯ BIG DOMESTIC APPLIANCES
❯ FLAT SCREENS
Anzeige Experts 205x132mm_Recycling International_20200325.indd 1 25.03.20 10:37
tion, although some businesses have
sprung up processing valuable alumin-
ium from the packaging by pyrolysis,
separating the materials by turning
the plastic into gas. The RPC-TRC
pilot is different because it recovers all
the materials in virtually the same
state. Andy Watts, RPC’s commercial
development manager, insists it is not
a version of pyrolysis.
‘It is a chemical-mechanical recovery
process. Scrap comes in as a co-lami-
nated material and comes out as the
same materials, just not laminated
anymore. The materials are in the
same form, just not stuck to each
other.’
Fraser Graham, Berry’s regional devel-
opment manager, agrees, ‘It’s not a
mechanically reprocessed stream and
nor is it chemical. It is somewhere in
the middle.
‘Our piece of the pie is to validate the
process from TRC, who are keeping
the intellectual property rights, so that
the process yields a product that can
be used in the market. From a CSR
point of view it is the right thing to do
– to build a new stream of high grade
post-consumer resin that can be taken
back into our non food production.’
establIshed partners
This is not the first time the two com-
panies have worked together on plas-
tic technologies. According to Miles,
‘There have been some staggering effi-
ciency improvements and we have an
established relationship. We men-
tioned (the technology) to them and
they are keen to consider anything that
gives them an opportunity to improve
their environmental credentials.’
TRC praises RPC for being able to
visualise technical advancements, say-
ing the company is willing to be an
early adopter when other companies
would prefer to be second.
RPC has changed hands in recent
years and Graham says part of its mar-
ket offering to the Berry Group was
this focus on design and innovation –
as well as the core business of being
convertors of plastics. ‘We do the lat-
ter very well and efficiently. What dif-
ferentiates us is the former – that we
are the first to knock on the door of
innovation to give our customers that
innovative edge. ‘
food grade goal
Graham hopes the current partnership
will be early step towards a ‘holy grail’
of producing a food grade stream
from recycled post-consumer packag-
ing. RPC would validate the input of
the waste, such as crisp packets or
instant rice packets, to ensure produc-
tion compliance. The plan is for the
process being tested under the pilot
ultimately to be verified by the regula-
tors.
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