Electronics recycler Environcom has added a second recycling line at its CRT reprocessing plant in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

The £2 million plant was opened in June 2004, but the new upgrades mean the plant's capacity has now reached Environcom's target of 400,000 televisions and monitors per annum.

The machinery has been brought in from Swedish firm MRT Systems, and uses diamond disc-cutting technology, which Environcom claims to have modified to achieve an "even cleaner cut".

Joseph Quigley, chief executive at Environcom, said: "This further investment in recycling technology is a key part of our continuing programme of growth within the UK with details on new investments across the UK to be announced in the next few weeks."

General

Environcom has also modified its general WEEE recycling facility to increase its capacity to deal with 30 tonnes of waste electronic and electrical equipment each hour, almost double its original capacity.

The company plans to expand even further over the next year with the development of a new plant, probably to be based in the North-East of England. The planned WEEE de-manufacturing plant's exact location is yet to be disclosed, but announcements from the company are expected "in the near future".

Cathode ray tubes, found in televisions and computer monitors must be treated before being disposed of under UK hazardous waste regulations. CRTs contain two types of glass – that in the panel and that in the funnel – which need to be separated for recycling. There are several methods of doing this – including the use of laser, hot-wire and diamond cutting.