Extrusion International 6-2023

53 Extrusion International 6/2023 RECYCLING – CASE STUDY Three Partners Changing the Narrative in Plastic Recycling Svensk Plaståtervinning celebrated the opening of Site Zero, a state-of-the-art plastic sorting plant in Motala, Sweden. The plant features TOMRA and Sutco equipment and aims to realize a circular economy for plastics by sorting Swedish plastic packaging waste into 12 fractions. S weden is taking the next leap in plastic recycling and cele- brated the extension of the Svensk Plaståtervinning polymer sorting plant. Originally opened in 2019, the plant was built in collaboration with Sutco and featured TOMRA sort- ing technology. Mattias Philipsson, CEO of Svensk Plaståtervinning, in- vested in the extension of the facil- ity with the aim of closing the loop on plastics and enabling zero waste. Thanks to the most advanced sort- ing equipment and expertise from global leaders in the recycling indus- try, the plant is expected to process 42 metric tons of materials per hour and recover 12 different types of plastics from mixed plastic packag- ing waste. “Around 33% of plastic packag- ing in Sweden is recycled, but unfor- tunately there is still a lot of recycla- ble materials lost. This offers great potential, one that we are commit- ted to unlocking and transforming into a valuable opportunity for the country and the environment. Since 2019, we have successfully been producing 4 different types of plas- tics for recycling. We always wanted to do more and with the latest tech- nology, we’re able to accomplish our goals,” explains Philipsson. With Site Zero, the company’s goal is to enable zero waste, zero down- cycling, and zero emissions. Oliver Lambertz, VP and Head of Operations and Feedstock Sourcing at TOMRA Feedstock, comments: “We have accompanied Svensk Plaståtervinning right from the start and have always been excited to be part of this impactful project. Our partner, Sutco, took the lead in building the plant and we provided all the state-of-the-art sorting tech- nology needed to maximize mate- rial recovery. The plant we are see- ing here today is the result of three partners working towards a com- mon goal: closing the loop on plas- tic packaging.” Technological drivers Site Zero is equipped with more than 60 TOMRA AUTOSORT™ ma- chines. The impressive 5 km sorting line features some of the world’s most sophisticated sorter systems. The high-throughput technology makes it possible to process approx- imately 42 metric tons of recyclables per hour. What's more, the post- consumer waste is then separated into 12 different polymer types, including a variety of polyolefins, PET, PS, EPS, PVC, and more. Thanks to the combination of sorting tech- nology and a well-designed sorting process, purity levels of up to 98% can be achieved. The clean material fractions are then sent to recyclers in the EU, but Site Zero is also planning to add recycling capacity to further process the main fractions locally. “We are excited to have such strong and knowledgeable partners at our side. The collaboration in our first project has already convinced us of TOMRA and Sutco. It is the quality and flexibility their systems offer and the reliable service that made them our partners of choice. Together we aim to make Site Zero a blueprint for sorting facilities in Europe,” explains Philipsson. Mattias Philipsson, CEO Site Zero Plant tour at Site Zero