Saved From Landfill is a bin bag made from the crisp packets, carrier bags, food wrapping and other packaging that UK households throw out because they cannot be recycled. It has the lowest carbon footprint of its kind and is helping local authorities divert otherwise unrecyclable plastics from landfill.
Its inventor, Telford-based company CeDo, believes the refuse bag will enable the UK to lead the world in this specialist area of recycling.
For the first time, UK local authorities and waste contractors will be able to collect plastics film from UK households rather than having to treat it as rubbish.
The bin bag, designed and made in Britain, presents the recycling industry with a new product and a new source of materials, since 99% of it is made of plastic currently sent to landfill. CeDo, which has more than 15 years experience of plastics film recycling, believes it is the UK's first true closed loop film recycling solution.
The bag was developed over five years. CeDo drew on investment funding and guidance from leading international eco balance and life cycle analysis (LCA) studies to arrive at the best environmental manufacturing solution.
Production is based on "dry cycling" and avoids using water – a world first. For this and other reasons, it needs 74% less energy than the industry standard. A UK-centric design-and-manufacture supply chain ensures minimum physical movement of materials and, therefore, far lower carbon emissions.
Every year CeDo puts 20,000 tonnes of recycled product into UK shops. Saved From Landfill takes the company's waste management expertise and ambitions up a level, technically, socially and environmentally.
Jackie Wills is part of the wordworks network
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