On the basis of an extensive call for tenders, Fost Plus selected five partners to build the sorting centres for the New Blue Bag. The five new sorting centres are now fully operational: Indaver (Willebroek), Prezero (Evergem), Sitel (Engis), Valtris (Charleroi) and Val’Up (Ghlin).
Whereas in the past, the number of types of plastic in the blue PMD bag was limited to two – PET and HDPE bottles and containers – packaging made of polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), PET trays and films have now been added, making the sorting process far more complex. The new sorting centres therefore combine a great many new and existing technologies, including drum sieves, wind shifters and infrared cameras. The PMD packaging is sorted into sixteen uniform fractions, ready for further recycling.
They also provide the necessary flexibility to be able to further refine and expand the collection scenarios in the future. Since the start of 2023, opaque PET packaging has been sorted as a separate flow, alongside colourless, blue and coloured PET bottles. For the drinks capsules – which have been allowed with PMD since the start of 2023 – an extra eddy current separator was implemented to pick up small aluminium packaging as well. As recycling technologies and markets develop, the New Blue Bag can be opened up further to additional packaging.
