Plastics manufacturing firms may have to adjust their processes ahead of the introduction of a new law concerning cadmium.
All produced plastics must be free from the presence of cadmium from December 2011, the European Commission has announced.
The potentially hazardous substance is often used in plastic fittings that join dissimilar materials.
However, European Commission vice-president Antonio Tajani says that this is a positive move for the industry, as suitable alternatives for cadmium have now been developed.
He goes on to explain plastics recycling will also benefit, commenting: "The measure encourages the recycling of PVC waste, which represents significant progress in the efforts to save resources."
The British Plastics Federation recently revealed that polymers manufacturers are being hampered in their attempts at growth by a lack of recycled material.
It questioned the wisdom of exporting large amounts of recycled plastic when the UK industry is in desperate need for more reusable plastics.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the plastics recycling industry includes:
