FEATURE
Mura Wilton leading the way on recycling
Waste-not – Mura Technology is helping to deliver a whole new approach to recycling plastics that are usually incinerated or landfilled. PICTURE: Cal Carey Photography
PLASTICS
WORDS: JULIE BURNISTON PICTURES: TOM BANKS
PIONEERS
Mura Wilton is setting a precedent, proving advanced recycling at scale is not only possible, but essential …
The world’ s first commercial-scale advanced recycling plant using supercritical water( a process known as hydrothermal liquefaction) is set to open its doors on Teesside.
Formerly ReNew ELP and based at the Wilton International industrial site, the facility is now Mura Wilton, in line with parent company Mura Technology’ s strategy to align its global portfolio and name each site after its location.
But this is more than a rebrand and Mura Wilton isn’ t just a flagship site. It’ s the start of a global shift in how plastic is treated, valued and recycled.
From frozen food bags to ready-meal trays and chocolate bar wrappers, flexible plastic packaging is everywhere – and notoriously difficult to recycle.
While traditional mechanical recycling works for some plastics, such as milk bottles, it can’ t deal with multi-layered films and wrappers. These are made from several layers of different plastics, each designed to provide a specific property, like a moisture barrier to extend the shelf-life of its contents. After use, these complex plastics are contaminated and so are not suitable for mechanical recycling processes.
Without a solution, these materials are typically incinerated or sent to landfill, or‘ downcycled’ to create lower-value items such as bin bags.
Mura Technology, however, offers a breakthrough. Using supercritical water- water heated and pressurised beyond its critical point so it behaves like both a gas and a liquid- plastics are broken down at the molecular level, returning them to their original chemical and oil building blocks.
The result is a hydrocarbon feedstock that can be used to make new, virginquality plastic. This diverts waste plastic away from incineration and landfill, keeping it in a circular economy, and replaces the need for fossil resource in the manufacture of new plastic.
Across the UK, pressure is mounting to deal with plastic waste responsibly. New government legislation called Simpler Recycling will require all local councils to collect flexible plastics by March 2027, yet only 14 % of local authorities currently have the infrastructure in place.
“ From spring 2027, businesses and
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