RECYKLING PET
PET RECYCLING
An essential part of our business is the recycling of plastics – PET bottles. It has been our specialty it for almost two decades. With the CAPEX projects completed, in 2023 we started the production of regranulated PET. Our process received a positive assessment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for direct food-contact packaging made with up to 100% share of our product.
You can access the EFSA assessment document below:
Safety assessment of the process Lerg‐Pet, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials – – 2023 – EFSA Journal – Wiley Online Library
The starting material, that is, PET waste, must be pre-prepared prior to delivery to our factory before it can be fed into the recycling process. In-coming deliveries of bottles should be sorted by colour:
– colourless,
– blue and green,
– compacted into bales.
Only post-consumer (food grade) bottles are processed. The maximum share of non- post-consumer bottles is 3%.
We source the input material from all over Poland. We work with municipal operators and private companies.
The PET flake that is our end product is a starting material for further processing for various manufacturers of plastic products, thus fitting well into and supporting the circular economy.
PRECYCLING PROCESS AT LERG-PET.
⇒ Collection and sorting
Used PET bottles are collected and sorted on the recycling line. The PET material is sorted by colours and types, along with separation of contaminants such as labels, caps and other materials.
⇒ Washing
Collected bottles undergo washing to remove any residual beverages, dirt and other impurities. This step is key to obtaining high-quality recycled material.
⇒ Grinding
PET bottles, caps and labels are then transferred to the grinding step.
• Bottle grinding: Washed bottles are crushed into small pieces (flakes). This step often includes the removal of caps.
• Cap grinding: Where not removed during bottle grinding, caps are processed separately.
• Label grinding: Labels, which are often made of various materials (paper, plastic), are also ground up.
⇒ Separation
PET flakes undergo a further separation step to isolate different materials. For example, flotation technology or optical sorting can be used to remove labels and caps.
⇒ Granulation
Purified and sorted PET is processed into PET granulate. In this step, the material is melted and formed into granules that can be easily handled in transport and used to make new products.
⇒ Processing
PET granulate is now used to make new products, including bottles, textile fibres, packaging and other materials.
⇒ Distribution
New products made from recycled PET are ready for distribution and re-marketing.
Summary
PET recycling is a complex process that efficiently transforms post-consumer bottles and other products for reuse to reduce waste and save natural resources.
