The facility in Grangemouth has the capacity to process 50,000 tonnes of plastic a year, including PET, HDPE, natural and jazz and polypropylene. Biffa says it is one of the largest PRFs in the UK.
First announced in Biffa’s full year results on 1 June 1, the acquisition “bolsters Biffa’s market leading plastics recycling capability” by providing more recyclable plastic feedstock in line with its strategy to quadruple its plastic recycling capacity by 2030.
The facility also has the capability to sort coloured plastic material and metal cans.
The move comes ahead of the implementation of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland in 2022, currently under review by the Scottish government. Biffa says the DRS “will make it easier for residents to do the right thing and recycle their used bottles and cans, including PET plastic, metal, and glass, ultimately helping safeguard our environment”.
‘Leadership’
Biffa’s chief executive Michael Topham said the deal builds on the company’s “leadership position” in closed-loop recycling and strengthens its capacity to process and recycling more plastic in Scotland.
“As a leading enabler of the circular economy in the UK, this investment helps us support Scotland’s vision of a greener future, as it prepares to introduce the deposit return scheme to reduce littering and improve recycling levels,” he said.
Mr Topham added: “We are delighted to welcome the Green Circle Polymers team and their customers to Biffa.”
The chief executive officer of Green Circle Polymers Limited, Tom Gleeson, added: “This is an exciting move and I’d like to thank the loyal customers who have supported the business over the years. I know the management and staff will make a valuable contribution to the future of the business as part of the Biffa Group.”
The video from CK International below shows various machinery at the Grangemouth facility in a video posted by CK International in 2019.
Subscribe for free