A major research project to produce food grade HDPE from recovered milk containers has been completed successfully by WRAP (GB-Banbury OX16 0AH; www.wrap.org.uk). The UK´s Waste & Resources Action Programme examined all aspects of the collection, sorting, recycling and reprocessing of the recovered HDPE, with particular emphasis being placed on the key control elements of raw material sourcing, cleaning efficiency and analytical quality. Baled waste bottles were sourced by Delleve Plastics (GB-Stratford upon Avon CV37 7NB), washing was undertaken by Sorema (I- 22040 Alzate Brianza, Como; www.sorema.it), extrusion recycling by Erema (A-4052 Ansfelden/Linz; www.erema.at) with new milk containers blow moulded by Nampak Plastics (GB-Newport Pagnell MK16 9QJ; www.eu.nampak.com).

WRAP´s materials sector manager for plastics, Paul Davidson, told PIE: “It´s a great project and has delivered exactly what we wanted it to do.” The finished containers were produced from 100% recycled material, but Davidson expects any commercial operation to use 20-30% of reclaimed HDPE blended with virgin polymer. Cost models for commercialisation look viable, says the WRAP manager, but investment in a wash and extrusion line is now needed to make it a reality.

In a visionary programme designed to meet the objectives of the Courtauld Commitment – an agreement between 13 grocery retailers to reduce the amount of packaging and food waste thrown away in the UK – WRAP has signed 10 contracts that have the potential to reduce household waste by over 235,000 t annually. Eight further contracts are being finalised. Financial support is being provided from WRAP´s GBP 8m Waste Minimisation Innovation Fund with a view to help kick-start new thinking in packaging design. Complete financing is available for successful projects covering areas such as innovation in product design and packaging, product dispensing systems and consumer testing.