"Polystyrene boxes account for 80% of our waste. It took us 18 months to investigate and evaluate all the technologies available"
Malcolm Macleod, Superintendent of the City of London's Billingsgate Fish Market
London: The first 'Clean Heat Packer' plastic recycling machine in the Europe has just been installed in the City of London Corporation's Billingsgate Market. Billingsgate is the UK’s largest inland fish market.
The machinery – the subject of Defra grant aid - has been installed to deal with the very large quantities of polystyrene waste which accumulate in the market. In fact polystyrene materials make up around 80% of wastes arising, and the low density and high volumes of these materials meant daily waste collections destined for landfill.
Using the equipment, waste collections have now been reduced to twice per week.
A major advantage of the new equipment at Billingsgate is that a heat source effectively melts the polystyrene materials reducing them by 95% of their original volume leaving a solid polymer block that can be recycled (see picture).
Michael Gold, 30, operator of the machine at Billingsgate holding the polymer 'block' - the condensed version of the ten containers of polystyrene boxes behind him
Fish smells and moisture in the used boxes are also removed making the materials recyclable. A variety of plastic products can be produced from the polystyrene recyclate such as CD cases and toys.
A similar 'Clean Heat Packer' plastic recycling machine is also installed at the world's largest Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan.
Superintendent of the City of London's Billingsgate Market, Malcolm Macleod said:
“Polystyrene boxes account for 80% of our waste. It took us 18 months to investigate and evaluate all the technologies available. We chose the 'Clean Heat Packer' because it helps us reduce our carbon footprints, reduce our waste disposal costs and cease sending valuable resource material to landfill.
“The City Corporation has secured a DEFRA grant for this project and we are very grateful that the government recognises our bid to helping the environment.”
Fearghna Lennon, Managing Director of Plastic Packaging Recovery Europe Ltd said:
'There were at least five occasions in the past 18 months of when the processed materials by other compactors simply did not meet recycling standards. Those materials were shipped all the way to China and got rejected and sent back to landfills in Europe. Our new 'Clean Heat Packer' will ensure that this would not happen and we are committed to the environment. '
Further information:
City of London Corporation - http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation
Plastic Packaging Recovery Europe Ltd - http://www.ppreurope.com/