Bread and beer crates, containers, pipes, car bumpers, garden furniture, children’s toys… in fact, all rigid plastic (except UPVC) is happily accepted by Express Recycling & Plastics Ltd.
Express have changed the face of recycling rigid plastics in the South East of England following the establishment of their first plant in Rainham, Essex which can handle an impressive 20,000 tonnes of rigid plastic per annum. The plant takes plastic from major waste companies as well as smaller waste companies that operate a transfer station.
Mike Harris, Development Director, told The Skip,
“We check incoming loads for quality as we know that not all suppliers have the same quality standards, then shred using a powerscreen shredder, trommel to remove dirt and any aggregates and then pass over magnets and eddy currents to remove any metals and fines. The material is then fine shredded and passes into our separation plant where it is washed, dried, granulated and separated into single polymers using our separation chambers (for the technically minded, this is PE (HD,MD,LD),PP, PP/PE mix, PS/HIPS and ABS!)
Our finished product is sold to manufacturers in the UK and Europe, where the material is used to make a range of products including clothes hangers, pipe, flower pots and wheelie bins.”
Express are currently installing a second production line at Rainham that will be able to process a further 20,000 tonnes per annum of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) derived plastic. The operation will be similar to the rigid plastic processing, but with more separation
chambers to divide plastics including those that are fire retardant and those that are not. This line will be operational from March this year.
With demand for their services constantly increasing, Express are in the process of securing a second site in South Yorkshire which will also process both rigid and WEEE derived plastic.
“We take in rigid plastic that meets our specification (no paper, no aggregates, no metals, no PVC) from a range of suppliers over a wide catchment area. Our research indicates that many waste disposal and skip hire companies are now looking to outsort the plastic in their waste stream and seek a market in the UK.” Said Mike.
Express are keen to talk with any companies who can provide regular supplies of rigid waste plastic or WEEE derived plastic, regardless of your location in the UK. They welcome interested companies to get in touch for an informal chat, and invite you to view their Rainham plant in operation. For more information, get in touch with The Skip.
