Polytag expands plastic tracking to UK's largest recycling facility

The Crayford facility serves more than two million households across Greater London and Southern England. Its integration into the Ecotrace network allows Polytag to capture barcode-level data with high accuracy as plastic moves through the infrastructure. The technology utilizes invisible UV tags, which are compatible with enhanced optical sorting systems, enabling more precise identification and separation of materials.

For retail members including Waitrose, Ocado, and Kraft Heinz, the expansion provides granular data on recycling performance. This insight is expected to inform future packaging design and meet upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility requirements. Polytag CEO Alice Rackley noted that the move brings the industry closer to a comprehensive national picture of plastic movement, emphasizing that measuring waste flows is essential for building a functional circular economy.