Billingsgate leads UK fish markets in polystyrene
recycling
1 February 2008
The first-ever ‘Clean Heat Packer’ plastic recycling machine in
the Europe has just been installed in the City of London
Corporation’s Billingsgate Market.
Billingsgate’s landfill waste was collected and disposed every
day but has now reduced to only twice a week since the
installation. Superintendent of the City of London’s Billingsgate
Market, Malcolm Macleod said:
‘Polystyrene boxes account for 80% of our waste. It took us 18
months to investigate and evaluate all the technologies available.
We choose the ‘Clean Heat Packer’ because it helps us reduce our
carbon footprints, reduce our waste disposal costs and cease
sending valuable resource material to landfill,
‘The City Corporation has secured a DEFRA grant for this project
and we are very grateful that the government recognises our bid to
helping the environment’
Unlike other recycling machines that have been installed in
other markets, which can only compact half the size of the
polystyrene, the "Clean Heat Packer" at Billingsgate will melt the
materials, reduce 95% of its size, destroy all the fishy smell and
moisture in the used boxes; thereby making the material recyclable
to various plastic items such as CD cases and toys.
Fearghna Lennon, Managing Director of Plastic Packaging Recovery
Europe Ltd said: ‘There were at least five occasions in the past 18
months of when the processed materials by other compacters simply
did not meet recycling standards. Those materials were shipped all
the way to China and got rejected and sent back to landfills in
Europe. Our new ‘Clean Heat Packer’ will ensure that this would not
happen and we are committed to the environment. ’
Ends
Press enquiries to Loretta Lui at the City of London on 020 7332
1528 or
loretta.lui@cityoflondon.gov.uk
For further information about the Technology please contact
Fearghna Lennon, Plastic Packaging Recovery Europe Ltd on +353 86
2510308 or
fearghnalennon@ppreurope.com
Notes to editors:
A similar ‘Clean Heat Packer’ plastic recycling machine is also
installed at the world’s largest Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo,
Japan.
The Billingsgate Market is the UK’s largest inland fish market
and is owned and managed by the City of London
Corporation.