AD operator BioteCH4 partners with Plastipak to deliver green power

AD operator BioteCH4 has teamed up with Plastipak, a rigid plastic packaging producer and recycler, to deliver a low-carbon solution to power one of its facilities.

Clean Tech, wholly owned by Plastipak, is a leading UK polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic re-processor, recycling more than 80,000 tonnes of post-consumer PET bottles and packaging per year, collected through the kerbside recycling system.

Based in Lincolnshire, UK, BioteCH4 operates an AD plant recycling over 90,000 tonnes of food waste per year. Plastipak’s Clean Tech PET recycling plant will benefit from green power generated from food waste at BioteCH4’s AD facility.

Clean Tech and BioteCH4 are neighbours, with just a road separating the two facilities. Following the establishment of this new partnership, the electricity generated through the combined heat and power (CHP) process at BioteCH4 is connected directly to Clean Tech to power the recycling process.

The food-grade recycled resin produced at Clean Tech is used to manufacture new PET pre-forms, bottles, and containers for well-known fast-moving consumer goods companies at parent company Plastipak’s UK plant in north Wales. This process, known as bottle-to-bottle recycling, keeps the PET plastic in a closed loop so it can be recycled time and time again.

“The use of clean, green energy generated through the recycling of food waste fits perfectly with Clean Tech and Plastipak’s ethos of plastic closed-loop recycling,” said Chris Brown, managing director of Clean Tech.

“In their own rights, Clean Tech and BioteCH4 are perfect examples of the circular economy in action, and this is a pragmatic yet unique partnership that combines the core activities of both companies to deliver a leading, low carbon end-product of recycled PET resin.”

Sam Tingle, marketing and brand manager of BioteCH4, commented: “As one of the leading AD operators in the UK, we have the knowledge and experience to deal with considerable volumes of food waste generated across a variety of business sectors and local authorities.

“We are delighted to partner with Clean Tech and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”