Resource minister Lord de Mauley has visited Continuum Recycling – the plastic bottle recycling joint venture between Eco Plastics and Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) – to mark the completion of the plant’s first full year in operation
Continuum celebrated its one year anniversary by reaching the milestone of half a billion bottles processed since opening in May 2012. If placed end-to-end all the bottles sorted to date would stretch around the earth more than twice.
Located on the site of Eco Plastics’ existing facility in Hemswell, Lincolnshire, the development of Continuum Recycling created the world’s largest plastics reprocessing facility, more than doubling the amount of bottle-grade recycled plastic (rPET) previously created in Britain, according to both firms.
The site is now responsible for processing around 50% of all the plastic bottles collected in the UK and played a key role in Coca-Cola’s recycling efforts during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In total, some 15 million plastic bottles were collected from Games venues and returned to shelves as part of 63 million new bottles, during a process that lasted as little as six weeks
‘Real benefits of recycling’
Resource minister Lord de Mauley said: “Continuum has shown the real benefits of recycling. It has helped to cut down on waste and brought millions of plastic bottles back into use which would have otherwise been sent to landfill. The plant has further helped Lincolnshire’s rural economy to thrive by creating more jobs – this is exactly what we want to see.”
Nick Brown, associate director for recycling at Coca-Cola Enterprises, added: “We are immensely proud of the long-term partnership forged with Eco Plastics. Sorting more than half a billion bottles after only one year in operation is an extraordinary achievement, and shows once again the significance of a project which is truly shaping the future of plastics reprocessing in GB.
“Continuum was fundamental in helping the Coca-Cola system to deliver on its Olympics legacy pledge and its materials are now used across our full range of plastic packaging. Perhaps most significantly its success should demonstrate to everyone, from householders to Local Authorities and policy makers, the real environmental and economic benefits of recycling.”
Jonathan Short, managing director of Eco Plastics, explained: “Delivering a world-first is always a challenge, so to have hit the 500 million mark within a year of opening is a real achievement.”
“But as significant as that accomplishment is in terms of jobs created and in terms of carbon saved, it is only part of the story. We hope that Continuum will prove to be a gateway project, demonstrating the value of long-term partnership and providing a template that others can follow.
“The challenge of creating a sustainable and 360 degree UK recycling industry is a real one. Projects like Continuum can make a material difference in helping us to achieve that vision.”
Engaging bins
Elsewhere, CCE has announced a series of innovative recycling initiatives for summer 2013 as part of its drive to boost consumer recycling in Scotland.
CCE will have a presence at two Scottish festivals; RockNess, from 7th to 9th June and the Royal Highland Show from 20th to 23rd June, where it will launch its Happiness Recycled campaign and showcase its new interactive bins, which bring recycling to life for consumers.
Designed to bring fun and excitement to the recycling process, the bins will engage visitors through interactive activities such as a basketball challenge, where consumers can use the bin as a basketball net to test their shooting accuracy, or the chance to deposit their bottles into a giant flower pot. ‘Flash mob’ style CCE performers will be on hand to congratulate participants on their recycling success.
