Forecasting your recycling plant operating cost is crucial for a successful business plan. Two of the largest variables are electricity and water. So, how do you estimate them?

PET line power consumption
PET line power consumption

Power Consumption: Calculating your PET line power consumption is straightforward. You simply sum the kilowatt (kW) ratings of all the motors on the line—from the crusher to the friction washers. For a 1000kg/h line, the total installed power is typically around 200-250 kW. However, machines don’t run at 100% load continuously. A good rule of thumb is to calculate based on 70-80% of the total installed power for an average hourly consumption rate.

Water Consumption: Modern lines are designed to be water-efficient. The primary water consumption in plastic recycling comes from the sink-float tanks and rinsing stages. A well-designed system will incorporate a closed-loop water treatment and circulation system. This means you are primarily treating and reusing the same water, dramatically reducing fresh water intake. The main loss is through evaporation and the moisture carried out with the final product. A 1000kg/h line might consume 1-2 cubic meters of fresh water per hour initially, but this drops significantly once the circulation system is stable.

Our Commitment: We design energy-efficient PET recycling machines and provide detailed utility consumption estimates for your specific configuration, helping you project your OPEX with high accuracy.