The Port of Antwerp has initiated a competition to prove a winner for the best solution that prevents losing plastic pellets when loading bulk trucks from silos.

Although solutions already exist to minimise the spillage, like collars around loading arms, small amounts of pellets still make their way to the environment. There is also the risk of plastic pellets remaining on top of the bulk truck or the chassis.

Submissions are open till 29 May 2022. An expert jury from the plastics industry will evaluate the ideas based on multiple criteria such as broad applicability, efficiency, usability, feasibility, innovative elements, and zero loss. The selected concepts will then be tested for feasibility.

The solution with the best-proven result will be rewarded with €5,000.

"Plastic pellets have a place in the port because of their many smart applications, but that place is not in the Scheldt, the dock water or nature. Therefore, together with the industry, we will put our shoulders under our 'zero pellet loss' ambition. Innovative solutions from the industry itself are the way forward," Annick De Ridder, Vice-Mayor City of Antwerp & President Port of Antwerp, underlined.

Photo: Port of Antwerp