Computers, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners all have one thing in common. When they are no longer functional it is often less expensive to throw them away rather than repair them. Every year millions of tons of plastics-rich waste are generated. Most of these mixed plastics are difficult to recycle and reuse due to the fact that it is hard to identify and separate the different plastics from each other.

Electrolux is working together with MBA Polymers that has developed a process where it is possible to economically recover distinct types and even grades of plastics from mixed plastics-rich waste. The mixed plastic is first separated from non-plastics and then sorted by type and grade using a fully automated process that converts the material to high value new materials.