Recycling Process

PET Baltija Jsc. production process is organized according to the standard LVS NE 13437 Packaging and its material recycling. Criteria of recycling methods. Description of recycling processes and schemes of material flow for the requirements of annex E.

The recycling process starts with a used PET packaging bale weighing 150-500 kg loaded on a supply conveyor passing through bale destruction mechanism and conveyor system and reaching the hot pre-wash system. It washes off the most part of sand and other dirt off the PET packaging with steam heated water, moistens and partly washes off the labels, as well as separates bottles from corks.

After the pre-wash the PET packaging is transferred to automatic sorting line where it is sorted by color, as well as other polymer and metal objects are separated from the PET flow. After the automatic sorting the final visual control of PET flow is managed by several employees.

After sorting the other color sorted PET packaging is transferred to the 2nd recycling line.
The applicable base flow goes to the grinder and it is grinded to a certain size PET flakes.

The grinded material is pumped to washing machinery by water. There the glue, labels and other admixtures are washed off PET flakes with the help of the temperature and alkaline chemical mixture. The major part of the admixtures is separated with a vibrating riddle after the washing process.

Afterwards the flakes are transferred to a floatation type of separation equipment. Since PET is heavier than water, PET flakes sink in the equipment, but cork and label material is lighter and it floats on surface.

Both of these material flows are separated and PET flakes already without any admixtures get to the rinsing equipment.

After the rinsing process PET flakes are dried by heated air, and airy dust type of PET and attached paper fibers are separated by moving through cyclone. In this stage the final PET flake treatment from metal parts is performed by metal detector. The dry flakes are put into 100x100x230cm polypropylene bags.

PET flakes in bags are stored in the warehouse and supplied to clients afterwards.

The waste water originating from the process of production is treated in specially implemented waste water treatment plant. The necessary heat for the process is provided by saturated steam that is prepared in the steam generator. The generator is operated by natural gas and electricity. The admixtures of other materials that have originated during the production process are sold as a raw material to different polymer recycling companies, for example, Nordic Plast.

Data and facts

  • The most part of the “hard” plastic products do not naturally decompose.
  • Secondary usage or recycling of plastic packaging not only saves the oil resources, but also protects the atmosphere from the gasses of greenhouse effects and other environment pollutions. For example, if 1 ton of plastic is recycled - 1, 8 tons of oil products are economized.
  • In the process of plastic recycling the environment malignant gasses desorb 3 times less than in their primary production process.
  • In the process of recycling the used energy consumption is 70% smaller than producing plastic products from the beginning.
  • By recycling plastic products the necessary territory for waste in dumpsites is considerably reduced
  • All kinds of products can be produced from secondary recycled PET bottles. For example, it is possible to make a sweater from 27 recycled PET bottles.
  • Life of PET bottles is eternal – at first they reach consumers, then – waste management companies, and if sorted correctly – PET bottles regenerate for a new life in secondary recycling companies and everything starts from the beginning.


Contacts

Eco Baltia group. Read more www.ecobaltia.lv