Reconomy to open major UK plastic recycling plant
Key takeaways
- Eurokey by Reconomy to invest in a £20 million plastic recycling facility in Corby, boosting UK domestic capacity.
- The site aims to process up to 38,000 metric tons annually and convert waste into reusable plastic pellets.
- The investment supports closed-loop recycling for retailers while reducing reliance on exports and virgin plastics.
Eurokey, a brand of the circular economy specialist Reconomy, is set to establish a £20 million (US$25.4 million) plastic recycling facility in Corby, Northamptonshire, UK. The 138,000 square foot facility is said to be the largest of its kind in the UK and aims to boost domestic recycling capacity.
At full capacity, the site could recycle 38,000 metric tons of plastic material annually and could generate 30 new jobs.
Zubair Bajwa, operations director at Eurokey, says: “For over 30 years, our business has helped UK supermarkets and retailers maximize the recycling potential of their plastic material, and this new site will allow us to go even further in delivering circular solutions for our customers.”
The facility will also be able to receive varying grades of plastic that have been sorted at Eurokey’s facility in Kettering, UK. The Corby facility will shred the packaging into plastic pellets, ready for manufacturers to use again for packaging.
Stabilizing domestic recycling
Reconomy explains that the UK relies on exporting its plastic waste due to a lack of recycling infrastructure.
Mike Benton, recycling loop managing director at Reconomy, says: “This facility will play a major role in increasing domestic recycling capacity and reducing reliance on virgin plastic by keeping high-quality material in circulation. It will also benefit the local economy.”
Moreover, the site’s proximity to Eurokey’s sorting facility aims to reduce transportation costs and associated carbon emissions, as well as cut reliance on virgin plastics.
The plant is expected to be fully operational in the second half of the year.
Recent developments in the UK plastic recycling industry reflect a mixed landscape, highlighting a sector navigating developing policies.
Last year, Biffa, a major UK waste management company, closed its recycling plant in Washington, Sunderland. The company told Packaging Insights that challenging market and regulatory conditions are behind the decision. Biffa has also called on the UK Government to cease exporting plastic waste.
Meanwhile, Amcor completed major upgrades at its recycling facility in Heanor, UK, processing a range of post-consumer and industrial flexible plastic waste.
