In October 2016, Veolia took over an unused plastic bottle recycling plant in Dagenham in East London. After some initial investment to get the facility up and running again, with the addition of improved technology, it is now turning waste bottles into a food-grade recycled nHDPE product that is used to make new milk bottles and yogurt pots.

At the edge between a sorting centre and a manufacturing plant, Dagenham Plastics is the key element to close the loop of nHDPE recycling. After a thorough sorting to guarantee 99% of food grade HDPE in the process, the flakes are melted and turned into pellets, ready to be used by the manufacturing industry.

High-quality sorting begins with the consumer, putting the right waste into the right bin, according to each local authority’s recommendations. Collected at kerbside, the recycling is taken to a local Material Recovery Facility that sorts it into different material streams. The HDPE milk bottles collected and sorted by Veolia are sent to Dagenham, where the bottles are shredded, washed, sorted and turned into food-grade pellets. The recycled clear HDPE is then sent to big brand dairies to be made into milk bottles and yoghurt pots. Once processed, filled and packed, the bottles are once again ready for consumption.

We have moved online this year and we’re excited for your virtual visit! Once you’ve explored our profile, head over to www.veolia.co.uk/london/wonderday where you’ll find a whole range of exciting resources as well as information about Veolia’s other Open House participants: Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility and SELCHP Energy Recovery Facility.