Plastic recycling plant to be one of UK's largest
RECONOMYA new recycling facility that can process up to 38,000 tonnes of plastic annually is set to open before the end of the year.
The £20m centre in Corby, Northamptonshire, will be one of the UK's largest dedicated plastic recycling plants according to Reconomy, the company behind the plans.
Different grades of plastic from supermarkets and manufacturers will be sorted at a facility in nearby Kettering, before they are then brought over and turned into pellets to be made into more packaging.
It comes after a series of plastic recycling plant closures across Europe in recent years.
RECONOMYAbout half of the UK's plastic packaging is recycled, but there are not enough domestic facilities to deal with all the waste produced.
About 600,000 tonnes of plastic waste was exported in 2024, according to environmental analysts at ENDS Report.
Plants have closed across the UK and Europe, as virgin and recycled packaging from Asia has proved cheaper for buyers.
Reconomy said the new 138,000 sq ft (12,821 sq m) centre in Corby would create more than 30 jobs and be fully operational in the second half of 2026.
Mike Benton, recycle loop managing director, said: "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."
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