Norway Inaugurates one of the World’s most Advanced Beverage Packaging Recycling Plants

The Skurve packaging sorting plant, in southwest Norway, began operating in November 2024 and is already positioning itself as the country’s most modern facility and one of the most advanced worldwide for processing used bottles and cans. Currently, 70% of the processed material corresponds to PET bottles and 20% to aluminum cans, both fractions destined for recycling and reintroduction into the production cycle.

Infinitum AS, operator of the national deposit return system, and Nordic Recycling Systems (NRS), specialized in recycling solutions, drove the project with the aim of strengthening the circular economy through cutting-edge technology.

The plant has the capacity to process more than 14,000 tons of packaging annually, guaranteeing a purity of over 99% in the separation of clear PET. The process includes automated unpacking, optical sorting, and artificial intelligence systems that optimize the treatment of recovered material.

Among its innovations, highlights include a robotic system with self-learning cameras for opening bags, an internal aerial transport that reduces operational costs, and exclusive technology for label removal. The final sorting is carried out with infrared sensors and spectroscopic vision provided by Pellenc ST.

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