Food-safe recyclates from household lightweight packaging collections 

the market currently lacks precisely recyclates suitable for contact-sensitive applications such as food and cosmetics. Interzero has now developed a process that enables food-grade and near-food-grade recyclates to be mechanically processed from material collected via Germany's lightweight packaging collection system (dual system „Gelber Sack“). To manufacture these materials, the circular economy service provider, which operates across Europe, is opening a new site in Dessau, Germany, and taking on a pioneering role.

Input: household lightweight packaging waste – Output: mechanically recycled PP (mrPP) for high-quality applications

Over a period of more than five years, the engineering team led by Thomas Herkert worked intensively to develop the optimum sorting and recycling process for the polypropylene recyclable material stream (PP) from Germany’s lightweight packaging collection system (“Gelber Sack”). The feedstock for the new plant in Dessau comes from Interzero’s own lightweight packaging sorting facilities. In Dessau, the bales of recyclable material are first shredded and washed, then carefully re-sorted and processed. The resulting flakes are subsequently recycled into recyclates. The necessary decontamination is carried out on site together with a partner.

The end product is a recyclate that is also suitable for applications with high-level requirements.