Latvian plastics waste recycler Nordic Plast Ltd. has invested more than 2.5 million euros ($3.2 million) to expand capacity and modernize production at its plant in Olaine, Latvia.
Nordic Plast, a leading Baltic States processor of low density polyethylene film and rigid high density polyethylene waste, installed a new German Starlinger recoSTAR basic 165 VAC recycling line. The line was officially launched in the first week of September.
The firm's latest investment has boosted its recycling capacity one and a half times and the project has led to the creation of another 25 jobs. Output has been raised from an average 320 metric tons of granules per month to 550 metric tons per month.
Installation of the new line is expected to reduce energy consumption by some 30 percent. Nordic Plast has also introduced new raw material washing and extrusion lines as well as water treatment facilities.
“The new production unit increases the production capacity, competitive capacity and also the export potential of Nordic Plast,” said Māris Simanovičs, chairman of parent company Eco Baltija Ltd. “The next goal is to continue the successful development, to elaborate new products and to conquer new export markets by becoming the top producer in Europe.”
Currently, Nordic Plast processes around 5,000 metric tons of raw materials, up to 50 percent of it PE packaging and rigid plastic waste collected in Latvia. The company now plans to increase the volume to 8,500 tonnes.
“Today, we are witnessing the fact that care for the environment can be more than simple enthusiasm, but also successful entrepreneurship, creating high value added products with export capacity and new work places,” Latvia's Economics Minister Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis commented on the project.
Formed in 2001, the firm began processing HDPE waste in 2010 and two years ago, began producing recycled polypropylene granules.
With Nord Plast's expansion and efficiency project it aims to expand its export market business with new sales of its output in Sweden, Finland and the UK. At present, it exports to 10 countries, the biggest importers being France, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.
