A new £65million plastics recycling plant – the largest in the 海角视频 – is to open at Avonmouth.
The Pennon Group, parent company of the 海角视频’s biggest recycling company Viridor, has revealed plans for the new multi-polymers facility which will recycle 60,000 tonnes of plastic from bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
The plant will be located next to and powered by energy generated from the £252million energy recovery facility (ERF) currently under construction.
In its first year of operation the plant is expected to turn 81 kilo tonnes of plastic waste, including 1.6 million bottles, pots, tubs and trays, into 60 kilo tonnes of recycled plastic.
The waste plastic will be turned into pellets or flakes to be used in plastic products, as an alternative to ‘virgin’ plastic.
The ERF is due to open this autumn, but a date for the opening of the plastics plant has yet to be set.
The plant is part of Viridor’s continuing commitment to 海角视频 plastics conversion, coming within months of the Government’s Resources and Waste strategy and a year on from the 海角视频 Plastics Pact, of which Viridor was a founding member.
Pennon’s chief executive officer Chris Loughlin said: “Pennon is dedicated to working in ever more sustainable ways, and we are extremely excited to be announcing this first-of-its-kind investment in plastics recycling.
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“By using waste which cannot be recycled as the fuel to create low carbon electricity which will power plastics recycling, we are creating a truly resource and energy-efficient waste management solution.
“There is a clear ambition from both 海角视频 consumers and politicians to improve recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste which is sent to export.
“Our research shows that 80 per cent of people believe the 海角视频 should find a way to deal with its own recycling without having to ship it to other countries.
“Unless action is taken now and investment in infrastructure is made, a plastic recycling capacity gap will undermine 海角视频 ambitions and the sustainability targets of retailers and the big consumer brands.
“We are, therefore, delighted to be leading the way.”
The co-location of a plastic reprocessing plant with an energy recovery facility is an industry first creating the opportunity to create even greater sustainability and environmental efficiency.
Sarah Heald, Pennon’s director of corporate affairs and investor relations added: “This is an extremely important investment for the South West.
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“It will create a centre of excellence for 海角视频 recycling right here in the region, showcasing leading edge innovation and technology and bringing knock-on benefits to the regional economy.
Recycled plastic uses 50 per cent less electricity than virgin plastic, and sourcing power from non-recyclable waste takes energy efficiency one step further and gives this material a real purpose.
The project also adds to its green credentials with the addition of a £2 million water treatment plant, which has benefitted from the input and expertise of another Pennon company, South West Water.
Two-thirds of plastic collected for recycling in the 海角视频 is currently exported and 46 per cent of plastic packaging is currently recycled against a target of 75%.