U.K. studying a BP plastics recycling scheme

Britain's waste industry will undertake a study to determine the feasibility of building a plastics waste recycling unit in Scotland based on a BP Chemicals Ltd. process. The study will center on a possible polymer-cracking plant to be built at BP's Grangemouth complex near Edinburgh. Ken Morin, managing director of the waste management firm Shanks & McEwan (Northern) Ltd., Slough, U.K., said, "This project is aimed at providing part of a national solution to the problems associated

April 20, 1998

2 min read

Britain's waste industry will undertake a study to determine the feasibility of building a plastics waste recycling unit in Scotland based on a BP Chemicals Ltd. process.

The study will center on a possible polymer-cracking plant to be built at BP's Grangemouth complex near Edinburgh.

Ken Morin, managing director of the waste management firm Shanks & McEwan (Northern) Ltd., Slough, U.K., said, "This project is aimed at providing part of a national solution to the problems associated with the effective recycling of mixed plastic waste."

BP developed the polymer-cracking process at Grangemouth to convert waste plastics to a hydrocarbons liquid that can be used as intermediate feedstock in refineries and petrochemical plants. The development followed the announcement of a European Union legislation, due to take effect in 2001, which will require 15% of packaging materials to be recycled and 50% to be burned to recover energy.

The study

Packing industry compliance venture Valpak, London, and Shanks & McEwan propose building a 25,000 metric ton/year plant at BP's Grangemouth site.

BP said building a plant this size would require a £20-25 million ($32-40 million) investment. Locating the plant at Grangemouth is viewed as ideal because of the refinery on site (OGJ, Aug. 18, 1997, p. 18).

Valpak and Shanks & McEwan have begun a £300,000 study to determine the viability of building the plant. The study will include an investigation of what form of waste collection is most economical and environmentally sound.

The study is being funded largely through a tax scheme that encourages replacement of landfill disposal.

The polymer-cracking process is designed to recycle plastics, including polystyrene, polyethylene, and poly-propylene.

John Turner, chief executive of Valpak, said, "This is a great opportunity to determine whether polymer cracking is the plastics recycling technology needed for the 21st century."