Swindon could get ‘all plastic’ recycling facility

An Advanced Plastics Recycling Facility (aPRF), which can recycle all types of plastic, could get the go-ahead in Swindon.

Recycling Technologies, who specialise in recycling residual plastic waste, announced that it is working with Swindon Borough Council-owned Public Power Solutions Ltd, to assess the feasibility of delivering the facility, which would be the first of its kind in England.

The facility would include the RT7000 feedstock recycling machine that converts plastic waste back into oil, called Plaxx, from which new plastics can be made. The machine heats up the plastic in the absence of oxygen to break the waste plastic down into Plaxx.

This process allows the RT7000 to recycle plastics commonly considered unrecyclable such as plastic film, and laminated plastics such as food pouches and even crisp packets.

Environment minister Therese Coffey criticised Swindon Council last year for its now abandoned plan to end plastic recycling and to instead burn the material.

Adrian Griffiths, CEO and Founder of Recycling Technologies, said ‘We are delighted that Swindon, the home of our manufacturing facility and HQ, is hoping to also be the home of England’s first aPRF which includes our RT7000 feedstock recycling machine.

‘There is an urgent need for more plastic recycling capacity in the UK to not only stem the flow of plastics into landfill and our environment, but to also create jobs and boost economic prosperity across the region.’

Councillor Maureen Penny, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and the Environment, said: ‘I am delighted Recycling Technologies is working with Public Power Solutions to develop this exciting plastic recycling technology in Swindon.

‘We are currently developing future action plans on how we manage our waste as part of our recently-adopted 10-year Waste Strategy.’