Pioneering firms take on plastic waste

Two pioneering multi-millionpound recycling businesses will set up beside each other in Perthshire next year.

Both located at Binn Eco ParkinG len farg, Pi Polymer Recycling and Recycling Technologies are separate but complementary projects to tackle the scourge of plastic waste.

Pi Polymer Recycling will bring a world- first system to process large rigid plastics such as garden furniture, pipes, toys and industrial containers.

The £1.8 million investment, which has been backed by a Zero Waste Scotland grant of £570,000, will have the capacity to recycle up to 24,000 tonnes a year at a 15,000 sq ft facility.

Taking a different approach, Recycling Technologies will use its machinery to turn complicated unrecyclable plastic packaging into an oil, which can then be used to make new plastic and other industrial materials.

Pi Polymer Recycling owner John Ferguson explained: “Our system can upcycle large rigid plastics from households and industry into separated, washed regrind and pelletised polymers.

“We are hoping to be up and running by the middle of next year and it will create around 20 jobs.

“With large plastics, customers don’t want to have to take them far.

“Plastic waste is very costly to move long distances so our facilities are designed to operate at a regional level with plants across the country, stimulating local recycled plastics manufacturing economies.

“After setting up in Perth, our intention is to put plants near the plastics all over the world.”

Mr Ferguson, who also owns EcoideaM Ltd, acts as the adviser to Perthshire waste management provider Binn Group for its eco park.

Binn Group will act as the supply chain partner for both projects.

With Zero Waste Scotland he made the approach to Recycling Technologies to encourage the Swindon firm to bring its system to Scotland.

Its Perth shire plant, which has been supported by global firms Neste and Unilever, is also due to be up and running next year.

It will specialise in complicated plastics, such as food packaging that might have several layers of different materials.

The company secured a £3.2m investment from UK Research and Innovation towards the project.

Adrian Griffiths, founder and chief executive of Recycling Technologies, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant from UKRI to move the UK to the forefront of the next generation of plastic recycling systems.

“One of our goals is to help the UK plastics pact meet their 2025 targets for 30% average recycled content across all packaging.”

Some of the Recycling Technologies equipment.