Tomra Sorting Recycling (Mülheim-Kärlich / Germany; www.tomra.com/recycling) has launched a new technology that is capable of separating single-layer PET trays from PET bottles.

The company said its Tomra “Sharp Eye technology” is a commercially significant breakthrough because small but critical differences in the chemical properties of PET food trays and PET bottles mean they have to be separated for equivalent-product recycling. Tomra explained that Sharp Eye has a bigger lens for higher light intensity, which makes it possible to detect even the most difficult to distinguish properties.

“Demand for this [technology] is likely to grow because the widening international adoption of on-the-go lifestyles is pushing up the use of plastic drink bottles and plastic trays used for fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs,” said Tomra’s product manager Valerio Sama.

More than a million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and this number is expected to increase by 20% within the next five years, according to Tomra. The EU is tightening recycling regulations and organisations such as Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE, Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticsrecyclers.eu) are instigating guidelines for recycling PET trays. This, said Tomra, will encourage separate sorting streams to enable PET tray recycling and to develop markets for end products.