The factory will recognise and sort 17 types of polymers and plastics allowing to send to recycling plants up to 80% of the incoming waste, the company said.

IREN has invested 45 million euros to build the new plant, which is located close to Turin in northern Italy, and will have the capacity to treat 100,000 tonnes of plastic a year.

(Reporting by Giancarlo Navach; writing by Francesca Landini; Editing by Alistair Bell)