POST-CONSUMER RECYCLING

POST-CONSUMER WASTE,
PREPPED FOR VALUE

As sustainability becomes a central driver in the packaging industry, post-consumer recycling plays a vital role in reducing plastic waste and conserving resources. Transforming used packaging from household and commercial waste streams into high-quality recyclate not only supports a circular economy – it also opens up new business opportunities and additional income streams for recyclers and manufacturers.

To support this transition, Rieckermann provides advanced system solutions tailored for post-consumer recycling – covering the entire process from sorting and washing to extrusion and pelletizing. These technologies enable recyclers to process heterogeneous waste streams efficiently and reliably, delivering consistent recyclate quality for demanding applications.

Post-consumer waste presents unique challenges: high contamination levels, mixed polymer types, and inconsistent material quality. Our robust, high-performance systems are specifically engineered to meet these demands – providing stable processing and consistent end-product properties.

Recent innovations integrated into our washing technology, sorting systems, and melt filtration have significantly enhanced the quality and durability of post-consumer recycling. Equipped with optimized degassing, odor reduction features, and intelligent process control, our extruders make it possible to produce high-quality recyclates suitable for a wide range of applications.

Today’s market demands solutions that are both environmentally responsible and economically viable. With the right equipment in place, recyclers can turn complex waste streams into valuable secondary raw materials – meeting regulatory requirements, fulfilling brand-owner sustainability goals, and increasing profitability.

GET IN TOUCH

Mr. Kristian Rieck
Head of Industry, Packaging Material Solutions
Email: [email protected]

PET recycling

For recycling businesses aiming to upgrade efficiency, reduce operating costs, and produce premium-grade PET flakes, our PET recycling processes offer compelling solutions. With a space-saving footprint, intelligent automation, and rPET quality that meets the world’s strictest standards, our systems are a leap forward on the journey toward circularity.

We supply a full range of complete Bottle-to-Bottle recycling lines that meet top-tier certifications, including FDA, EFSA, and brand-owner approvals. Our recycling technologies are designed to significantly reduce resource consumption – water, energy, and chemicals – while keeping setup costs attractive. By combining high-quality equipment and expertise from Asia and Europe, we deliver solutions that offer strong market fit, economic value, and outstanding performance.

In addition, our advanced Tray-to-Tray recycling lines achieve yields above 80% and can also process PP cups and trays. This technology is especially valuable in regions with high consumption of take-away food and beverages, offering recyclers a profitable and sustainable way to handle complex waste streams.

Our portfolio:

Sorting lines
Washing lines
Extrusion
Solid state polycondensation (SSP)

Rigid plastic recycling

For recyclers working with mixed post-consumer HDPE and PP waste, Rieckermann delivers advanced system solutions that combine precision, reliability, and innovation. Designed specifically for rigid post-consumer materials – from bottles and containers to household packaging – these systems produce high-quality raw materials that meet demanding industry standards, such as FDA.

Polyolefins such as HDPE and PP represent a major share of plastic packaging materials, making their recovery essential for sustainable production. However, rigid post-consumer packaging is still under-recycled. One of the key challenges recyclers face is the difficulty of removing fully glued labels from containers.

Our dedicated polyolefin recycling systems are engineered to meet these challenges. Featuring advanced washing, sorting, and pelletizing processes, they enable the production of recyclates with consistent properties suitable for a wide range of applications.

Key technological features include enhanced contamination and odor removal, improved melt filtration, and polymer stabilization systems. These innovations ensure that even input streams with varying quality can be processed into stable, high-value output.

Thanks to a modular design concept, each system can be tailored to specific feedstocks and end-use requirements – supporting a wide range of materials and production goals. This gives recyclers the flexibility to respond to changing market demands while maintaining efficiency and profitability.

Our Portfolio

Sorting lines
Washing lines
Extrusion

Film recycling

Flexible packaging plays a vital role in modern product protection and convenience, but also presents unique recycling challenges. In the film recycling segment, Rieckermann offers robust and efficient system solutions tailored to your specific needs, ensuring reliable processing of flexible packaging waste into valuable raw materials.

Post-consumer and post-industrial films often consist of thin materials, multilayer structures, and heavy contamination, making efficient recycling solutions essential. Our specialized film recycling lines are built to handle these complexities. Advanced pre-sorting, washing, and extrusion technologies enable you to transform even highly contaminated film waste into high-quality regranulate. The resulting recyclates meet demanding requirements for reuse in packaging and other applications.

To help you maintain consistent output and operational efficiency, our systems incorporate key innovations such as optimized degassing, enhanced filtration, and intelligent process controls. These features allow recyclers to process complex film structures while ensuring stable product quality – even with fluctuating input conditions.

Each film recycling system can be configured for diverse input streams – from agricultural films and shopping bags to flexible packaging materials. Thanks to a modular design concept, you benefit from maximum flexibility to adapt to changing feedstocks and production goals, while maintaining efficiency and profitability.

Our portfolio

Sorting lines
Washing lines
Extruders

Effluent treatment plant (ETP) solutions

High-quality recycling is not just about excellent product output — it also demands responsible resource management throughout the process. Especially in washing processes where large volumes are used, water is a key resource in plastic recycling.

To manage it efficiently, Rieckermann offers advanced effluent treatment plant (ETP) solutions that clean, filter, and condition process water for reuse within the recycling line. This reduces fresh water demand, lowers operating costs, and ensures compliance with environmental regulations.

In the ETP solutions segment, we provide comprehensive, customized systems for all types of plastic recycling processes – helping you reduce water consumption. Our systems are specifically developed to handle the complex water streams generated during plastic recycling, which may contain inks, adhesives, organic residues, and fine particles. Equipped with high-performance technologies, they deliver reliable treatment results while remaining operation energy-efficient and cost-effective.

By combining our process expertise with local civil engineering know-how, ETP solutions can be seamlessly integrated into your existing or new recycling facility. This tailored approach ensures that every project is optimized both technically and economically – helping you maintain performance while improving resource efficiency.

Solution scope

Tailored to local discharge water index
Adapted to your water reuse goals

PACKAGING MATERIAL SOLUTIONS EVENTS

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POST-CONSUMER RECYCLING

POST-CONSUMER WASTE,
PREPPED FOR VALUE