South West College (SWC) will use the finance awarded under the Ecosurety Exploration Found to launch a project which will develop a new process to efficiently and mechanically separate food waste from plastic packaging removed from anaerobic digestion (AD) plants without using huge quantities of water.

The process will provide clean plastics for use in existing markets and maximise the usage of food waste feedstock.

The college will deliver the initiative – the RE:Solve Project – in partnership with Ulster University and Granville Eco Park.

Three UK-based innovation and research projects offering vital and impactful solutions to the reuse and recycling sectors have been awarded a total of £334,000 by the second round of the Ecosurety Exploration Fund, helping to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

The projects were each selected for their originality, viability and potential long-term wider impact.

Ashlene Vennard, Post-Doctoral Researcher at SWC, said: "This exciting new project is one that SWC is truly passionate about, with our record in sustainability projects and our plastic recycling knowledge.

"Not only do we hope to solve the packaging and food waste problem to aid local industry, we hope to provide a solution for any AD plants that deal with food waste feedstock.

"We look forward to working with our partners at Ulster University and Granville EcoPark, combining our resources to prevent these waste streams going to landfill."

Offering a total of £1 million since its launch in 2019, the second and final round of the Ecosurety Exploration Fund started with a call for entries last June.

It is the only such funding opportunity to be provided by a UK compliance scheme and builds on Ecosurety’s established experience in supporting innovative projects and new technologies across the waste and recycling sector.

Shortlisted applications for the fund were judged by a high-profile panel of ten independent experts from business and non-governmental organisations, including Paula Chin, Sustainable Materials Specialist at WWF UK; Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials and Society at UCL; Margaret Bates, Executive Director of OPRL; and Michelle Norman, Director of External Affairs and Sustainability, Suntory Beverage and Food Europe and GB&I.