The first batch of plastic waste has been received at ReSource Denmark's plant in Esbjerg, marking a milestone in the plant's history. At the same time, the plant's systems have just completed a cold start-up - a crucial phase where the advanced machinery and systems are put into action to ensure smooth operation before the actual processing of plastic waste begins.
Factory Manager Lars H. Kristensen is excited about the recent results: "Welcoming our first batch of plastic waste is a historic milestone that symbolizes the realization of our vision for a sustainable future through efficient plastic waste management. The dedication of the team and the efficiency of our technology has brought us to this point, and we are excited to get started with real plastic now."
ReSource Denmark's main building, which spans 173 meters in length, 40 meters in width and 20 meters in height, is equipped with advanced sorting equipment with the capacity to sort 160,000 tons of plastic per year and is expected to be fully operational from early 2024. The facility will have the capacity to handle all plastic waste in Denmark and contribute to Denmark's ambitious plastic recycling targets.
At the same time, the facility is also able to receive plastic waste from households in neighboring countries, including Norway, Sweden and Finland. This week's shipment, for example, came from Finnish service company Lassila & Tikanoja.
A step towards a more sustainable future
German manufacturer Eggersmann is the supplier of the high-tech equipment used to sort the plastic. The process involves removing impurities and sorting the plastic into different types - HDPE, PP, LDPE, PET and PVC - that meet the requirements for both chemical and mechanical recycling. Tetra Pak and metals are also separated and sent for recycling. As a result, ReSource achieves a very high recycling rate.
"The advantage of ReSource is that we use a proven technology on a large scale. This technology is very flexible, allowing us to add or change the specific types of plastic during the sorting process. ReSource will also provide traceability from waste to product, which will be crucial for the key players in the industry going forward," says Plant Manager Lars H. Kristensen.
"These results mark a step towards a more sustainable future. Let's work together and pave the way for a greener Denmark," Lars concludes.
