With plastic high on the public’s agenda, Veolia has launched a “flexible new service”, Procycle, to recycle “harder to treat” materials like sweet wrappers.
Veolia says its new solution means materials such as sweet wrappers, straws and plastic toys can now be treated and recycled into new products.
The new solution is designed to help tackle waste generated by the 1 billion kilograms of sweets consumed each year; 1.4 million tonnes of textiles sent to landfill per annum; and 4.5 million straws used every year.
Available in public spaces these new containers will work through a “postback system” to Veolia’s facility where they will be recycled. From there it will be sent to its network of reprocessors in the UK and Europe to be turned into new products such as garden furniture, plant pots and replacement for virgin plastic.
Richard Kirkman, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer said: “We don’t want to let recycling leave a bitter lemon taste in people’s mouths. So now when you are sucking on your rhubarb and custard you can be confident that your wrapper could be recycled.
“So if you are slurping your smoothie through a straw or just clearing out the house of toys you can know they are being transformed into new products. That’s the sweetest thing.”