Polymer Recycling Facility Wins Carbon Award

Posted 19 Oct 2012

Viridor’s polymer recycling facility was given the award for ‘Innovative Energy Reduction Project’ by Quantam Controls for a DC to AC conversion project which has saved over 2000 kilowatt hours each day; equivalent to the amount average household’s use in six months.

Viridor Polymer Recycling is one of the most advanced reprocessors of domestic plastics in the country. The site recycles 3,000 tonnes of plastic bottles each month, from local authority and business contracts, producing plastic pellets and flakes ready for use in remanufacture; reducing the need for raw materials. The operation, which has already achieved the Carbon Gold Saver Standard, is highly energy intensive and uses around 16% of Viridor’s total imported electricity. In the last twelve months, the site has undertaken a number of projects which have led to savings of approximately 800 tonnes of carbon each year; equivalent to taking 200 cars of the road.

Representatives from Viridor, Manish Chahwala and Andy Houghton were presented with the award during a visit to the world’s largest variable speed drives and motor factory at ABB Helsinki, Finland.  The visit covered all aspects of ABB drives and the motors product range along with a full factory tour including introduction to the world’s largest R&D center for Drives and Motors.

Manish Chahwala, Viridor’s Energy Efficiency Manager commented; “Reducing carbon is a priority throughout Viridor as we look to reduce our reliance on the natural environment. This is in keeping with the objectives of the recycling plant at Skelmersdale, which reduces societies need for raw plastic. We are now looking at where similar initiatives could be utilised across other areas of the business.”

Steve Hughes, UK Sales Manager for ABB Drives said; ‘We are delighted to have Viridor as the winner of this award. Viridor took an unusual application to assess potential savings, hiring a drive from Quantum Controls to prove the actual savings meant that they were in possession of the factual data following before and after data logging.”

Back Like