Technological watch

UK group set to quadruple plastics recyclingBiffa's materials recovery facility in Aldridge / UK (Photo: Biffa)Recycler and waste management provider Biffa (High Wycombe / UK; www.biffa.co.uk) has announced a sustainability strategy that includes investments of around GBP 1.25 bn (EUR 1.35 bn) and a quadrupling of plastics recycling. The group plans to improve recycling and recovery capacity across the UK over the next 10 years, under its â??Resourceful, Responsibleâ? strategy. Other targets include a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, developing waste-to-energy infrastructure and transitioning to electric collection vehicles.
In February 2020, Biffa partnered with dairy company Mà¼ller UK (Market Drayton / UK; www.muller.co.uk) on food-grade recycled HDPE for milk bottles. Biffa said it has enabled Mà¼ller UK to use up to 40% recycled plastic in its bottles. The rHDPE will be produced at Biffaâ??s plant in Redcar / UK. Earlier this year, the UK waste management group also opened a new PET bottle recycling facility in Seaham / UK with a capacity of around 57,000 t/y â?? see Plasteurope.com of 05.02.2020.
During the coronavirus situation in the UK, Biffa said it would continue to operate â??as normally as possible,â? although it could have to make some changes to its services. Waste collection is typically categorised as an essential service in and outside the UK.25.03.2020 Plasteurope.com [244794-0]