Polytag has partnered with recycling and waste management company Re-Gen, installing a Plastic Detection Unit installed at its material recovery facility (MRF) in Newry, Northern Ireland, enabling the site to count individual items of packaging during the recycling process.

Re-Gen’s Newry site processes 250,000 tonnes of commingled household waste each year. In addition to handling a quarter (25%) of Northern Ireland’s total waste, the facility also processes materials from England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.

The installation at the site forms a part of Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme which aims to deploy the company’s Plastic Detection Units across 12 MRFs to cover 50% of the UK’s household recycling waste stream. Once detection units are installed in MRFs, brands that apply Polytag’s Invisible Watermarks to their packaging will be able to gain access to never-seen-before data about the lifecycle of their products, explained Polytag.

Watermarks are easily spotted by Polytag Detection Units using UV lights, said the company. Real-time data collected provides actionable packaging lifecycle intelligence enabling businesses to set meaningful internal ESG targets or use them as a benchmark for legislative reporting, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Digital Waste Tracking.

Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, said the partnership marks a significant milestone in optimising recycling processes across the UK. The technology will allow Re-Gen to manage packaging and waste on a large scale – a ‘game-changer’ for improving recycling rates for a circular economy. The unit will enable precise tracking, tracing, and detection of materials – essential for achieving these goals, he added.

Joseph Doherty, chief executive of Re-Gen commented, ‘We are proud to partner with Polytag to trial their innovative Plastic Detection Unit at our Newry facility. At Re-Gen, we are constantly investing in advanced technology to improve our processes and remain leaders in the recycling industry. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to adopting cutting-edge solutions that enhance recycling efficiency and provide valuable insights into packaging lifecycles. By embracing innovations like Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme, we’re driving the industry forward and contributing to a more sustainable future for today and generations to come.’