Aluminium and polyethylene

Aluminium and polyethylene recovered from the repulping process can also be recycled in a variety of ways:

• In Italy polyethylene and aluminium are used for the production of a new plastic material, Ecoallene® *, developed by Leccepen company. This is a practical and resistent material, supplied in granules and ready to be used in several applications of plastic moulding industries. Read more at www.ecoallene.com
• In Germany polyethylene and aluminium are used as catalysts for cement kilns. The mixture of polymers and aluminium is fed into the kilns as an alternate form of fuel, usually displacing coal. The process of generating energy leaves the aluminium oxidized. Aluminium oxides are also the result of heating bauxite, a necessary constituent of cement manufacturing. This saves on other raw materials.
• The Finnish company Corenso recovers each part of the beverage carton: the repulper recovers the paper fraction, while a gasification plant recovers the aluminium foil and produces energy. Corenso is specialized in producing paper cores, extensively used both in the paper and in the textile industry. While producing virgin aluminium from bauxite is very energy intensive, recycling aluminium takes a fraction of the energy. Consequently new aluminium products can be made more economically. Plastic is used to generate energy, that produces steam for the paper mill and energy to the city of Varkaus.
• In Brazil, we have patented equipment to clean the polyethylene and aluminium from paper recycling process. This equipment allows for higher efficiency in fibre recovery, and at same time better quality granulates for injection moulding. The combined properties of polymers and aluminium allow for the production of compressed boards for low-cost housing materials.