Plastic Recycling in Mexico: High-Performance Wastewater Treatment and Water Reuse – Clean Water. Engineered for the World.

As modern recycling capacities continue to expand, the requirements for efficient and reliable wastewater treatment are becoming increasingly important.

A recent project at a plastic recycling facility in Mexico demonstrates how highly contaminated industrial wastewater can be successfully treated while meeting stringent discharge requirements and supporting sustainable operations.

Challenge: High-Strength Wastewater from the Recycling Process

Plastic recycling generates wastewater with high organic loads and elevated nutrient concentrations. The treatment plant was designed for a daily flow of approximately 480 m³, with a maximum inflow of 20 m³/h.

Influent concentrations can reach:

• COD: 8,742 mg/L
• BOD₅: 2,225 mg/L
• NH₄-N: 111 mg/L
• Total Nitrogen: 120 mg/L
• Total Phosphorus: 22 mg/L

The objective was to reliably reduce these concentrations to very low levels and comply with strict discharge limits.

The Solution: C-TECH Reactors for Maximum Treatment Performance

The plant utilizes two C-TECH reactors installed in a basin measuring 15.0 x 7.0 x 6.0 m. The technology is based on a high-performance biological treatment process specifically developed for industrial applications with high and fluctuating wastewater loads.

Key benefits include:

• High removal efficiency for organic pollutants
• Effective nitrification and denitrification
• Robust process stability under varying influent conditions
• Optimized space utilization through a compact design

The biological treatment stage is followed by polishing processes including disc filtration, activated carbon treatment, and chlorination.

Stable Effluent Quality in Operation

Following the complete treatment process, excellent effluent quality is consistently achieved:

• COD < 150 mg/L
• BOD₅ < 10 mg/L
• NH₄-N < 1 mg/L
These results demonstrate the outstanding performance of the selected treatment technology, even under highly demanding operating conditions.

Successful Implementation and Outlook

The project has been successfully implemented and represents an important contribution to the sustainable operation of the recycling facility. It helps ensure compliance with environmental regulations while promoting responsible resource management and water reuse.

Conclusion

This project in Mexico highlights the growing importance of advanced wastewater treatment technologies within the plastic recycling industry. High-performance biological processes such as the C-TECH reactor system enable the efficient and reliable treatment of heavily contaminated industrial wastewater. By supporting environmental protection, resource conservation, and sustainable industrial development, such solutions are helping to build the foundation for the next generation of recycling facilities.