Waste recycling specialist Biffa (High Wycombe / UK; www.biffa.co.uk) has announced a GBP 15m (EUR 17m) investment in a PET bottle recycling plant. With a capacity of 25,000 t/y, the new plant is to produce recyclates for use in food packaging. The construction period is scheduled to be 18 months. The company has not yet reported the planned location in the UK, but is considering a collaboration with a potential partner for the project.

The news was included in Biffa's half-year results (ending 31 March 2019). Net revenue (excluding landfill tax) was up 4.2% at GBP 501.8m in the first six months of the current 2018/2019 fiscal year. Statutory operating profit declined 14% to GBP 34.8m and statutory profit after tax fell nearly 20% to GBP 19m, but during this period the company also made four acquisitions totalling GBP 20m. The Resource Recovery & Treatment recycling segment saw net revenue rise 7.6% to GBP 65.4m, while adjusted operating profit fell 47.2% to GBP 5.6m.