Sita to turn yoghurt pots into diesel at new plant

A spokeswoman told Packaging News that packaging such as plastic bottles and milk cartons where there “is already a route for recycling” will not be used in the process.

Sita is working with Irish-based new conversion technology firm Cynar on the project. Cynar developed the plastic-to-fuel market-grade technology.

Pryolosis system

The mixed plastic is shredded up and taken into a pyrolosis system. It is then taken through a distillation process where the suitable components of the plastic are selected to be converted into diesel.

Sita has been given planning permission for the Bristol plant which will turn 100,000 tonnes of waste a year into energy through the burning process.

The firm also said that a total of 125 new jobs will be created.

Alongside the plant there will be a facility which will process 40,000 tonnes of rubbish which can be recycled such as cans and plastic bottles.

The new facility would have the capability of creating around 4.2 million litres of diesel each year from 6,000 tonnes of unwanted plastics.

‘Exciting plans’

Sita planning manager Gareth Phillips said: “These are exciting plans that will put Avonmouth at the forefront of the very latest in resource management technology.

“Producing a valuable commodity like diesel and increasing the capacity of the recycling facility will enable us to put waste to good use and save it from going to landfill. It also makes sense to locate these facilities together on one site so we can reduce the transportation of the recycling materials.”