London Underground shows plenty of bottle for recycling

Plastic bottles left on London Underground's tube network are being targeted in a recycling drive that will see them reprocessed back into food-grade packaging material.


Plastics reprocessor Closed Loop Recycling (CLR) has teamed up with waste contractor Bywaters to collect and recycle used bottles left discarded on the tube network. Bottles collected will be collected by Bywaters and taken to CLR’s Dagenham facility.

The partnership is supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and is a further boost for CLR, which has just experienced record throughput tonnage during the past six months – an increase of almost a quarter on the previous six months.

To manage increased demand, the company is set to expand its operation next year, which will increase its overall capacity for mixed plastic bottles – rPET and rHDPE – by almost double.

The Mayor of London’s environment director, Kulveer Ranger, said: “It is great news that plastic bottles placed in bins on the tube are being recycled within the capital, contributing towards London’s economy and job market.”

CLR’s managing director, Chris Dow, added: “It’s great news for Londoners who will now be able to see their used bottles being recycled virtually on their doorstep into brand new packaging by some of the UK’s biggest brands. It’s a big boost for British recycling.”

Maxine Perella

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