Billingsgate Installs Fish Box Recycling Machine
With fish boxes accounting for 80% of the waste at the market, the City of London Corporation, which owns and manages Billingsgate Market, was determined to set up a system that would divert this valuable resource material away from landfill and into an efficient recycling scheme. “It took us 18 months to investigate and evaluate all the different recycling technologies. We also secured a government grant from DEFRA to fund the equipment purchase,” explains Malcolm Macleod, Superintendent, the Billingsgate Market. The Clean Heat Packer, the technology that was eventually chosen by Billingsgate Market, is manufactured by Pana Chemical; the leading supplier of EPS recycling machines in Japan. Similar machines have been installed in over 600 businesses (supermarkets and retailers) in Japan. One is in the world’s largest Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, where it processes 25 tonnes of fish boxes a day. The Clean Heat Packer is supplied, installed and maintained by EPS Packaging Group member, Plastic Packaging Recovery Europe (PPE), who also buys the polymer blocks produced by the Clean Heat Packer. Managing Director, Fearghna Lennon, says: “Our customers value having a secure, long-term buyer for the blocks. “For large volume waste producers, the capital cost of our machines is very often paid for, within a reasonable period, by the purchase price paid for the polymer blocks. This excludes savings on current disposal costs, recycling subsidies paid, other income and expenses,” adds Lennon.
“And, another great benefit which is important to our customers, is that the machine does not need any complicated or time-consuming operation. It can be used like a dustbin!” The Clean Heat Packers reduces the volume of EPS fish boxes by 50:1 enabling 25 tonnes to be loaded on to a 40-foot container for efficient and economic transportation. The polymer blocks are clean, dry and odourless, and they can be easily palletised and stored outdoors without affecting the value of the blocks (the blocks do not take up water when left outdoors). Most importantly, the melting process destroys the fishy smell and moisture in the boxes so the material can be recycled into a variety of new items such as decking, hangers, CD cases and picture frames. The Billingsgate Market EPS fish box recycling scheme will divert 25 tonnes of EPS a month from landfill and ensures that this useful material is no longer wasted.
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From On 28 January 2008, UK’s largest inland fish market, Billingsgate Market announced that it is recycling all the EPS (expanded polystyrene) fish boxes that pass through its famous portals.
“We recommend the Clean Heat Packer for a number of reasons,” explains Lennon. The machine is very compact in size so it can be used where space is limited. There are no odours, smoke or noise during its operation. It is a very safe model because the processing is at a low temperature, which also keeps electricity costs low.
