PET Bottle vs PET Tray Sorting | TOMRA Success Story |

Recycling PET plastic is becoming increasingly complex as regulations evolve and purity standards rise. At Amarsul, a leading waste sorting facility in Portugal, the challenge was to efficiently separate PET bottles from PET trays to comply with new Portuguese recycling requirements. With AUTOSORT™ and its advanced SHARP EYE™ technology, Amarsul has successfully optimized its plastic sorting process, achieving a 92% separation rate of PET trays from PET bottles.

A Solid Choice and World Renown in Plastic Recycling

AUTOSORT™ is TOMRA’s high-performance sorting system designed to process large volumes of post-consumer waste with exceptional accuracy. Equipped with SHARP EYE™ technology, it enables the precise identification and separation of different plastic types, colors, and compositions, ensuring high-purity output streams for recycling.

At Amarsul, the installation of two new AUTOSORT™ units allowed the facility to efficiently sort PET bottles from PET trays, overcoming a significant industry challenge. Since 2009, Amarsul has relied on TOMRA’s innovative sorting solutions, with eight AUTOSORT™ units processing up to 106,000 tonnes of waste annually.

Advantages at a glance:

  • High-speed, automated sorting for maximum efficiency
  • SHARP EYE™ technology for precise identification of PET bottles vs. PET trays
  • Over 92% PET tray removal, ensuring cleaner recycling streams
  • Optimized material recovery, increasing plant profitability
  • Future-proof solution for evolving recycling regulations

By integrating AUTOSORT™, Amarsul has not only improved its recycling performance but also taken a significant step toward meeting national and EU circular economy goals.

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