Today, Veolia Environmental Services opened its first Plastic Recycling Facility in Rainham, Essex. The facility has been built to support local authorities across the UK adopting mixed plastic recycling as part of its collection services to residents. The company found that if every local authority across the UK adopted mixed plastic recycling it will help save over 300,000 tonnes of CO2 per year the equivalent of removing approximately 75,000 cars off the road per year.
The UK as a whole is currently collecting around 180,000 tonnes of plastic bottles per annum, which represents around 30% of the estimated 550,000 tonnes that enter the waste stream every year.
The new facility represents a £5 million investment into the UK economy, has created 45 new jobs and has the capacity to handle up to 50,000 tonnes per annum. Also known as the ‘Parrot’ POLY-mer separation facility, it is designed to separate up to nine different grades of plastics ranging from bottles, yogurt tubs and trays and by dividing these ensures high quality and high value for the end user.
Gavin Graveson, Executive Director of Veolia Environmental Services said “This state-of-the-art facility has the capability to adapt to different plastics in the future and will begin to help end confusion for homeowners as to what they can and cannot recycle. We can now achieve a market leading end product for reprocessing materials back into plastic products, closing the loop and feeding the circular economy.”
For more information visit our website at www.veoliaenvironmentalservices.co.uk or join in the conversation on Twitter @Veolia_ES_UK #plastics.
Veolia Environmental Services, part of the Veolia Environnement Group, is the UK’s leading waste management company. With a sizeable presence throughout the UK, mainland Europe and the world, Veolia Environmental Services employs over 77,000 people in 33 countries and serves more than 800,000 business clients worldwide. Veolia Environmental Services is the only global provider of a full range of services for handling hazardous and non-hazardous solid and liquid waste. It provides waste management and logistics services as well as materials recovery and recycling. Veolia Environmental Services generated revenue of €9.08 billion in 2012.
We are committed to protecting the environment and improving the lives of the communities in which we operate and have been awarded Platinum Rating in Business in the Community’s Corporate Responsibility Index for 2013.
Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE and NYSE: VE) is the worldwide reference in environmental services. The company has operations all around the world and provides tailored solutions to meet the needs of municipal and industrial customers in three complementary segments: water management, waste management and energy management. Veolia Environnement recorded revenue of €29.4 billion in 2012.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the websites:
www.veolia.co.uk
www.veoliaenvironnement.com