Page 10 from: Recycling International November/December issue 2024

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RAMP-UP CONTINUES FOR INDIA’S BOTTLE-TO-BOTTLE
RECYCLING
India’s PET recycler Ganesha
Ecopet has increased its bottle-
to-bottle recycling capacity with
the addition of two lines. The
expansion triples the company’s
production of bottle-grade recy-
cled PET (rPET) to 42 000 tonnes
per year.
The Starlinger lines, installed at
Ganesha Ecopet’s Warangal facility
in Telangana state, began operations in mid-2024. They complement the two
other Starlinger lines that have been in operation since 2022 and produce recy-
cled PET flakes and pellets for food-grade packaging and textile applications.
The surge in demand for food-safe recycled PET in India is driven by two major
factors. Firstly, the Indian government’s 2022 Plastic Waste Management
(Amendment) Rules introduced extended producer responsibility (EPR), man-
dating that brand owners include at least 30% post-consumer recycled content
in PET bottles by 2025. This requirement will gradually increase to 60% by
2029. The second factor is a shift in consumer preferences pushing brands to
adopt more sustainable packaging solutions.
‘Our goal is not only to recycle plastics but to create premium-quality, sustain-
able solutions for brands,’ says Sharad Sharma, md of Ganesha Ecomet’s moth-
er company Ganesha Ecosphere. ‘Recycling is a powerful way to reduce CO2
emissions and mitigate climate change.’
Ganesha Ecopet also focuses on minimising carbon emissions by recycling 95%
of its water and increasing the use of renewable energy in its operations.
Ganesha Ecosphere has been involved in PET recycling since 1994 and oper-
ates six production sites across India and Nepal, processing 9.4 billion PET bot-
tles annually.

EUROPEAN BATTERY FIRST FOR MERCEDES-BENZ
Mercedes-Benz has opened
Europe’s first mechanical-hydro-
metallurgical recycling plant for
batteries at Kuppenheim in south-
ern Germany. The car giant says
the expected material recovery
rate of the facility will be more
than 96%.
The plant has an annual capacity of
2 500 tonnes. Recycled materials

will feed into the production of more than 50 000 battery modules for new all-
electric models.
The opening ceremony was attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz who said bat-
teries were an essential component of an electric future for vehicles.
‘To produce batteries in a resource-conserving and sustainable way, recycling is
also key. I congratulate Mercedes-Benz for its courage and foresight shown by
this investment in Kuppenheim. Germany remains a cutting-edge market for
new and innovative technologies.’
Mercedes’ technology partner for the battery recycling factory is Primobius, a
joint venture between German plant and mechanical engineering company
SMS group and Australian process technology developer Neometals.
The scheme is receiving funding from the German Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of a scientific research project with
three German universities.

ANTWERP FACILITY TO RECYCLE FOUR MILLION TYRES
WITH EU FUNDING

A subsidiary of
US-based Bolder
Industries is set to
recycle over four
million end-of-life
tyres each year at a
planned facility in
Antwerp, Belgium.
The project is sup-
ported by a EUR 32
million grant from
the European
Commission’s EU
Innovation Fund
pilot programme,
with an additional
EU 2 million from
the Flanders region.
Expected to be

operational by 2027, the new facility is designed to cut greenhouse gas
emissions by up to 85% compared to traditional virgin carbon black pro-
duction, the company claims.
Modelled on Bolder’s Missouri plant, the Antwerp location will feature four
reactors and a modern finishing line and will harness wind energy and on-
site heat for its power needs. This aims to address growing demand for
eco-friendly alternatives, producing materials such as BolderBlack and
BolderOil.
BolderBlack is used in more than 3 000 products including tyres, wetsuits,
and automotive parts, and offers ‘a sustainable replacement’ for traditional
carbon black. BolderOil is a component in renewable fuels and various
industrial applications.
The expansion will not only increase the availability of these materials but
also serves as a template for sustainable manufacturing practices in
Europe, the company says.
Construction on the Antwerp facility will begin in 2026, with full-scale pro-
duction anticipated the following year, laying the groundwork for Bolder’s
European growth strategy.

sustainable wear parts for
sustainable recycling

www.stahlwerke-bochum.com

CRONIMET STRENGTHENS MARKET
POSITION IN CENTRAL EUROPE
Global stainless steel scrap recycler Cronimet
Group has expanded its operations by acquiring
the MetallPlast Recykling company in Czech
Republic.
Acquisition of the 32-year-old family business
marks ‘a significant step’ in Cronimet’s strategic
growth in the region, the company states.
MetallPlast Recykling, founded in 1992 by Milan
Ryšavý, specialises in the recycling of ferrous scrap,
stainless steel, foundry scrap and non-ferrous met-
als. It will become an integral part of the Cronimet
Group’s portfolio.
With seven operational sites across the Czech
Republic, equipped with its own fleet of vehicles
for disposal services, MetallPlast’s geographic
positioning and services enhance Cronimet’s exist-
ing network. Cronimet will retain the company’s 48
employees.
Lucie Milatová, currently managing director of
Cronimet Ostrava, will co-lead MetallPlast with
Ryšavý, ‘ensuring continuity and a smooth transi-
tion’. The new partnership reflects Cronimet’s
commitment to ‘maintain the values and expertise
that have made MetallPlast Recykling a trusted
name in the region’.
‘This acquisition strengthens our market position in
central Europe and offers great synergy potential,’
says Cronimet ceo Jürgen Pilarsky. ‘By leveraging
the strengths of both companies, we can expand
our service and product offerings for our business
partners.’
According to Pilarsky, the take-over is not only
about expanding market reach but also aligning
with like-minded businesses. ‘Both Cronimet and
MetallPlast Recykling are family run companies
committed to sustainable and responsible man-
agement. ‘The philosophies of both companies
align perfectly.’
The acquisition comes four months after Cronimet
Group had reported its 2023 turnover of EUR 3 bil-
lion being EUR 1 billion down on its record year of
2022, primarily caused by fluctuating scrap metal
prices.

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