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Firm’s plan to recycle duvets, pillows and plastics that can’t currently be thrown into household recycling could revolutionise UK industry

A first-of-its-kind plastics plant is coming to Teesside, bringing a wave of jobs.

Poseidon Plastics Ltd’s plan to recycle plastics that currently can’t be thrown into household bins will see a 10,000 tonne a year facility built at Wilton.

Its ground-breaking technology could revolutionise the UK’s plastics industry, with plans to supply half the UK’s PET plastics demand with its back-to-basics recycled product.

The machines could start whirring as early as summer 2021 after the firm signed an agreement with DuPont Teijin Films for the first Teesside plant.

It will create up to 100 construction jobs , 20 permanent positions – and jobs “at all ends of the supply chain” from collection to sorting and transport.

Full details of roles and how to apply will be released later.

Technology developed at Wilton including a test plant a tenth of the size of the new one will lead to further full-scale 50,000 tonne plants.

Developed at the same time as the Wilton plant, they will be licensed and rolled out across the world.

Poseidon is also in talks with hotel groups and the carpet industry to recycle duvets, pillows and flooring – which would otherwise end up in landfill.

Not all types of PET plastic can currently be recycled; some highly coloured or composite items are still dumped.

Poseidon Plastics Ltd is a joint venture between Irish firm Green Lizard Technologies, Panima Capital & Abundia Industries.

A spokesman for the firm said its mission was to “help solve one of the largest problems facing the world today – how to deal with waste plastic and polyester in an environmentally friendly manner”.

They said:

“In recent years the average householder has become very aware that not all of their PET waste is recycled – they can rest assured that Poseidon plastics is addressing the issue.

“PET (polyester) is a commonly collected plastic but currently can only be recycled using mechanical recycling.

“Unfortunately, many forms of PET such as highly coloured and composite materials cannot be recycled using this method and end up in landfill.

“The Poseidon process has been specifically developed to address these troublesome waste-streams.”

Poseidon’s technology takes “all forms of PET including bottles, packaging, carpets, clothing and textiles and industrial waste”.

“It breaks it down to its base building blocks and in the process removes the impurities such as colours, dyes, organic and inorganic contaminants,” the spokesman added.

The firm’s product, rBHET, can then be upcycled into consumer goods.

Detailed engineering design on the Wilton plant will begin within a few months.

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Credit: TeessideLive

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