On 28 September, RecyPET AG (Langfeldstr. 80, CH-8500 Frauenfeld) inaugurated one of Europe´s most modern recycling plants for PET beverage bottles. This new plant processes used PET bottles into recyclate in a multi-stage operation, giving properties identical to virgin PET. It can then be used for the production of new, single-layer PET bottles. Although, so far, it has not been permitted to use recycled PET in direct contact with food in Switzerland, the Federal Health Office (BAG) has issued the appropriate licence for Frauenfeld. The plant has an annual capacity of 15,000 t.

A number of domestic and foreign companies hold shares in the Frauenfeld recycling plant: PRI PET-Recycling International GmbH, D-Rostock; Femit Plastic AG, CH-Fehraltorf; Krones AG, D-Neutraubling. The company operates according to the licensed URRC process of the American United Resource Recovery Corporation (Spartanburg, South Carolina / USA). Investment costs totalled CHF 13.5m, with the buildings accounting for CHF 1.5m.

A similar plant is to come on stream at PRI PET in Rostock, Germany, in April 2001.

• Plasteurope.com Service:Further detailed information on the recycling plant in Frauenfeld, with illustrations (German):PIE-No. 44903.