MANCHESTER – PPE waste is to be given another life in a UK recycling collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and the country’s largest PPE manufacturer, Globus Group.
The soaring quantity of plastic PPE including respirators and masks that has been thrown away during the pandemic has been widely criticised as the world strives to reach Net Zero goals.
Since the start of the pandemic, an estimated 8.4 million tons of this waste has been generated in 193 countries, the majority of which ends up in landfill or, in some areas, in the ocean.
A new UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project is developing the technology to turn the waste into pyrolysis oil as a secondary raw material which can then be refined back into new commercial products or fuels. The project will run for two years.
Dr Aimaro Sanna, an assistant professor in chemical and process engineering (EPS) at Heriot-Watt University is an expert in the thermochemical conversion of biomass and waste material.
“We will be working closely with our commercial partner Globus to develop a bespoke process that will be applied to PPE plastic waste that cannot currently be recycled mechanically for various technological, economic or ecological reasons,” he said. “As the world strives to reduce its landfill, ocean impact and carbon emissions, this project is a significant step towards addressing the increased waste generated during the global pandemic.
“Initially the research will help to recycle over 100 tons of product generated by the manufacturing process every year – the equivalent to 10kg of waste every hour. However, our hope is that the new process will be adopted more widely. Many countries have been unable to process their plastic waste PPE properly. Our research aims to address these challenges by providing an exemplar technique for application globally.”
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Globus Group has been producing an annual one billion medical masks and 300 million FFP respirators for healthcare trusts across the UK. The manufacturing process currently results in 7g of waste material per medical mask.
As part of the initiative, Globus has implemented innovative thermal heating technology at its Alpha Solway factory in Golborne in North West England. Developed by Cardiff-based Thermal Compaction Group (TCG), the machine has been designed to heat and compact the plastic polypropylene into large, reusable blocks. These are then collected and processed, providing raw materials which Globus Group will use to make new PPE products, and reducing the company’s PPE waste by an estimated 85%.
“This machine is a fundamental part of our process to re-purpose and utilise waste material to achieve a circular economy,” said Pete Lee, head of quality at Globus Group “At Globus, we acknowledge our responsibility to the NHS, supporting it in delivering a ‘net zero’ sustainable future, and the long-term welfare of future generations. This technology will be a real game changer in the way we tackle our PPE waste.”
“The commitment to provide a circular solution for 100 tons of PPE per year is hugely ambitious and is exactly the sort of innovation step we seek to support through our Knowledge Transfer Partnerships,” added Jim Berryman, knowledge transfer advisor at Innovate UK KTN Working in collaboration with the Alpha Solway factory and Heriot-Watt University will see us applying research expertise to address a significant environmental challenge, helping deliver the Globus Group’s net zero ambitions.”
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership is co-funded by Innovate UK and the Scottish Funding Council.
