Polytag Limited has installed its Ecotrace UV-tag detection technology at Wyllie Recycling’s materials recovery facility (MRF) in Perth, Scotland, expanding its network to 15 detection units and giving brands greater visibility into the recycling of their packaging.

The system detects invisible ultraviolet (UV) tags on packaging as it moves through enabled recycling facilities, capturing barcode-level data on which items are recovered, and where and when they are detected. Depending on the information encoded, the tags can also identify technical packaging characteristics, including polymer melt flow temperature, converter details and food-grade status.

The installation brings Wyllie Recycling’s 4.5-acre facility into the network. The site processes approximately 15,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic packaging annually, handling kerbside recycling for multiple Scottish local authorities.

📊 The data can help brands assess packaging performance, improve design and build a stronger evidence base for recycling outcomes as the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system evolves. Ocado Retail and Waitrose are already using Polytag’s detection network to track packaging recovery.

The expansion follows Polytag’s recognition in Time Inc.’s Best Inventions of 2026 in the Reuse & Recycle category. Extending the network geographically could help create a more representative picture of how packaging moves through the UK’s recycling infrastructure.

Source: Polytag