Numerous options for recycled diaper waste

Knowaste reports that it has processed over 77 million diapers since it opened its UK recycling facility in West Bromwich in 2011, saving over 18,000 tonnes of waste from being disposed of in landfill or through incineration.

These figures, however, are just the start. The company says it is on course to process nearly 13,000 tonnes – approximately 56.4 million nappies – in 2013/14, and around 112.3 million in 2014/15.

Paul Richardson, Knowaste’s UK business development director will be a keynote speaker at the forthcoming Nonwovens Network UK 2013 seminar which takes place in Bradford on July 11 this year.

But what of the recycled materials from these used products?

When a shipment of disposable nappies is delivered to the Knowaste processing facility, all incoming waste material is sterilised and then undergoes a complex system of shredding, screening, washing and drying to produce two raw materials – cellulose fibre and plastic.

These are then further refined to ensure that all contaminants are removed from the recycled materials. The refinement process enables up to 100% of the disposable nappy to be removed from the waste stream, offering a 100,000 tonne reduction in greenhouse gases per year.

The refined cellulose fibre and plastics from recycled nappies can be used to manufacture an incredible range of products.

Knowaste is currently working with a number of plastic manufacturers to produce items, such as timber decking and fencing, benches, bollards, railway sleepers and flood defence systems. It is also working with three of the largest wheelie bin manufacturers in Europe to integrate the recycled plastics from nappies into waste containers.

The companys says it takes great care to ensure that all recycled materials are managed in a closed loop system, and the containers used by local authorities to collect used nappies are made from Knowaste recycled plastics.

Successful trials have also been completed at a paper mill to manufacture cardboard, which will be used to make toilet role tubes and moulded fibre packaging for non-food products. However, the cellulose fibres from recycled nappies have a vast range of uses that are only beginning to be explored, including bricks, insulation, brake linings, tarmac, pet litter, concrete and tile adhesive.

“This is the beginning of an exciting time for Knowaste and we are enthusiastic about all of these applications and some new ones that we are still working on,” says Paul Richardson.