OVER a tonne of plastic waste collected from trains and stations has been transformed into usable products by LNER since November last year.
The initiative comes as the rail organisation looks for new ways to minimise waste, with it using specialist 3D printers to turn the rubbish into products such as a bespoke plug drainer for use in its Azuma train kitchens.
The waste is collected and brought to a hub at Peterborough Train Station, where it is hand-sorted by a dedicated team. Plastic waste is then handed over to an on-site team from Automedi, who use cutting-edge technology to turn the waste plastic into filament, which is then used for 3D printing.
Olivia Richardson, environmental partnerships manager at LNER, said, “At LNER we are always looking for new ways to minimise waste, so this idea from Automedi fitted our ambitions perfectly. The fact that we have created a time saving solution for our onboard teams, by producing a bespoke drainer from waste plastic, highlights the possibilities of this project and just some of the work we are doing as a responsible business.”
Andrew Pakes MP, who represents Peterborough and recently visited the hub, added, “It’s brilliant to see a facility like this on the doorstep in Peterborough. Too often we don’t think about where our recycling ends up, so it is great seeing staff working hard to sort waste, producing filament which can be used in 3D printing. We’re keen to see more innovative ideas like this, and I hope this is the start of some great partnerships in Peterborough and across the railway network.”
