Knowaste originates from North America and since the 1990’s has been researching and developing technologies for recycling absorbent hygiene products (AHPs). In 2011, Knowaste became the UK’s first company to recycle AHPs when it opened a treatment facility in West Bromwich, Midlands to prove the concept of AHP recycling.

Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) include:

• Disposable diapers
• Adult incontinence products – pads and pants
• Feminine hygiene products

Designed for comfort and protection, AHPs consist of several materials – fibres to absorb moisture, super absorbent polymers to retain moisture and plastic membranes and tabs to keep the user dry and secure.

Clever technology for composite product

Knowaste technology processes AHPs and reclaims the valuable plastic and fibre to be recycled into products such as:

• plastic components for product manufacturing
• plastic recycling bins
• composite materials replacing steel, wood and concrete
• pet litter and bedding
• cardboard industrial tubing
• fillers in the construction and road building sector

Only Knowaste has invested the resources needed to make full use of this waste and deal effectively with contaminants. In doing so, Knowaste also saves up to 70% of CO2e compared to the emissions from the usual disposal methods of landfill and incineration.