UBQ Materials: Turning Trash into Treasure

Plastic, a ubiquitous material often derived from fossil fuels, is far from sustainable. However, a recycling company in Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands, believes they have found a solution. The catch? They need your banana peels, pizza boxes, and even dirty diapers.

Located in a rather unassuming industrial area, UBQ Materials is revolutionizing the plastics industry. The company’s CEO, Albert Douer, is brimming with optimism about the future of sustainable materials.

Inside the factory’s visitor center, a variety of products are on display: flower pots, garden hoses, slippers, crates, tabletops, car parts, and trays. All of these are made from plastic, but without the use of fossil fuels. Instead, they’re made from everyday household waste – the pizza box from last weekend, the coffee grounds from this morning, and more.

What sets UBQ Materials apart is its ability to process virtually any type of household waste, including materials that are typically difficult to recycle. The company claims to be able to convert 105,000 tons of waste into 80,000 tons of plastic pellets each year. These pellets can be used alone or mixed with other plastics to create a wide range of products.

A Struggle for Recyclers Plastic recycling companies have been facing challenges due to low demand and competition from cheap, fossil-based plastics produced in countries like China. While the EU is introducing new regulations to encourage the use of recycled plastics, many companies feel these measures are coming too late.

A Love for Dirty Diapers and Greasy Pizza Boxes At UBQ Materials, the raw material is a mixture of dried-out garbage, including shredded textiles and plastics. The company also processes “wet” organic waste, such as greasy pizza boxes and even dirty diapers. Douer explains, “We prefer dirty diapers. Normally, it’s difficult for recyclers to process this kind of waste, but we love it.”

After sorting, cleaning, mixing, and drying the waste, it is broken down into fibers, cellulose, and sugars. These components are then recombined with the remaining plastic from the waste. Glass, steel, and stones are filtered out. The resulting material is UBQ, a thermoplastic that can be melted and molded like traditional plastics.

A Sustainable Solution UBQ Materials offers a promising solution to the global plastic waste crisis. By transforming household waste into a valuable resource, the company is helping to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and minimize the environmental impact of plastic production. As the world seeks more sustainable alternatives, companies like UBQ Materials are paving the way for a greener future.

Key points from the article:

• UBQ Materials converts household waste into a sustainable plastic alternative.
• The company can process a wide range of materials, including organic waste.
• UBQ’s plastic can replace traditional fossil-based plastics in various applications.
• The company is helping to address the global plastic waste crisis.