Plastics machinery specialist Amut (Novara / Italy; www.amut.it) has announced its first recycling plant for PE and aluminium composite materials, such as Tetra Pak-type packaging. The plant is expected to begin operation in September 2018. The recycled poly-laminated waste will be used to make "Ecoallene", a recyclable and patented material produced by Ecoplasteam (Milan / Italy; www.ecoplasteam.com).

Around 7,000 t/y of Ecoallene resin will be produced in Spinetta Marengo / Italy. The companies have developed the technology to recycle most of the poly-laminated waste, which is typically a high-cost and problematic process that leads to material ending up in landfills and incinerators. The input material (bales) will come from paper mills, where it will have undergone a process to recover cellulose.

Amut says the recycled pellets are easy to colour and since the resin contains aluminium particles, it has a glittery appearance. Ecoallene can be used in extrusion or injection moulding, like standard polymers. The main application sectors are automotive, building, giftware and general tools.

The Italian extruder manufacturer is also collaborating with recycling technology firm Erema (Ansfelden / Austria; www.erema.com) to process post-consumer PET bottle flakes into food-grade packaging – see Plasteurope.com of 19.04.2018.