AXION POLYMERS CALLS FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM CAR INDUSTRY

Axion Polymer's Director Keith Freegard says that greater collaboration between vehicle manufacturers and ELV recyclers is essential in order to maximise opportunities for technology, employment and sustainability in both sectors.

He suggests the ELV legislation offers 'tremendous scope for supporting growth and forming new partnerships in the transition towards the Circular Economy'. Pointing to the 2.47 million new vehicles registered in the UK last year, he claims it is 'a time for change' as investment in new recycling technologies can meet demand for greater sustainability in the booming vehicle manufacturing industry, creating benefits for all.

'We, like many similar companies, have invested significantly in state-of-the-art technology to meet the 2015 target'. But what's needed now is more engagement from motor manufacturers in exploring ways of stimulating demand for recycled materials - both plastics and metals - in components for new vehicles.'

Axion's multi-million-pound Trafford Park shredder waste advanced processing plant (SWAPP), operated jointly with metals recycler S Norton, is already achieving the 95% recycling and recovery target. It produces recycled plastics that go back into new vehicle components, materials for the construction industry and high-calorific solid recovered fuel.

Deliberately designed with spare capacity, Axion's facility is capable of dealing with the complex mix of materials in modern vehicles; plastics can comprise up to 22% of a new car's weight. Recent investment has increased the capability for handling the complex plastics concentrate mixture from the shredder residue separation process.

Axion's SWAPP facility, claimed to be one of the most advanced of its kind in Europe, has an annual capacity of 200 000 tonnes, separating the non-metallic fractions from the shredder residue of 600 000 cars a year.