Institution news
Q: Could you briefly explain your role, involvement and experience with regards to this seminar?
Nick Stillwell (NS): I am Managing Director of two companies involved in making a useful end product out of mixed waste plastic here in the UK. The first of these businesses I have been running since 2005, and the other since 2016. We take unwanted plastic waste and make it into a replacement from plywood and medium-density fibreboard. I invented the technology that make this possible.
Q: What are the main engineering challenges facing the industry at the moment and what are the most common issues you hear from colleagues?
NS: I think the biggest challenge at present is finding a solution to the question “what do we do with “un-recyclable” mixed waste plastic?”. I don’t think it is likely that people are going to stop using a lot of plastic any time soon and the ways of disposing of it are becoming ever more limited. Exporting it is now a much less appealing option, incinerating it has challenges related to emissions, and landfill is clearly unpopular too. We either need to do a better job of keeping plastics separated, sorting them once they get mixed, or (my preferred option!) finding a way of using them and making them valuable.
Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your company or in the industry in general?
NS: In my opinion the most exciting thing happening at the moment is the fact that people now seem to be starting to be willing to pay a little bit extra for circular economy products. The swell of public opinion is now so strong that it is motivating companies to stop just saying that they are doing something but to try new things and put their money where their mouth is. I often remind people that for the circular economy to work people need to be willing to buy products made from recycled material!
Q: What key things can attendees expect to learn from your presentation?
NS: Attendees will learn that it is already possible to make a useful end product from low grade, unwanted, mixed waste plastic here in the UK. They will also learn that it has been hard work getting here and has taken longer than expected. They might also learn that though this is an area where there is meant to be a lot of government support and green investment it is pretty hard to access that support for companies who have established technology and are looking to grow.
Q: What other presentations or topics are you looking forward to hearing and discussing in more detail at the seminar?
NS: I am interested to hear more about what Recycling Technologies are doing. The technology that they are looking to develop has great potential and I am interested to know how far along they are in their journey and when they think it might be a commercial solution. I am also interested in hearing Richard McKinlay speak about how he is making his model work especially with regards to collection and reprocessing.
Q: What developments are you most interested in for the future and why?
NS: One major area of future development that interests me is governmental policy towards plastic. It is a very complex issue and correct, not hurried, policy is needed. There are often unintended consequences of policy interventions and we need to make sure any policies really do result in people, and more importantly businesses, doing the right things. A change in behaviour is needed to close the plastic cycle and I worry it won’t happen quickly enough unless it is forced.
Q: Why is it important for engineers, scientists and other professionals to join this seminar?
NS: It is important because this is a difficult challenge that needs to be solved and it won’t be solved by anyone working in isolation. The best ideas and best practices need to be shared and known broadly so collaboration can happen. As the title of the event states it is a cycle and people at all stages of the cycle need to know what the others are doing to effectively and efficiently close the loop.
Closing the Plastics Cycle takes place on 2 July 2019 at One Birdcage Walk, London.
Join this forthcoming event as it will:
- Deliver greater awareness around the whole plastics cycle
- Showcase the latest solutions that are helping to manage plastics waste in the UK
- Offer updates from industry as they seek to support the Circular Economy
- Help educate those involved in the plastics cycle to consider stronger prevention methods
To book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/plastics.