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Basildon WEEE firm goes into administration

Essex-based WEEE recycling firm Coolrec UK has gone into administration after struggling with strong competition and falling metals prices.

Adminstrators are currently looking for a buyer for the Coolrec site at Basildon
Adminstrators are currently looking for a buyer for the Coolrec site at Basildon
The firm, which is owned by Dutch firm the Van Gansewinkel Groep, had operated at a site in Basildon since 2005 when Coolrec acquired fridge recycling firm Technowaste (see letsrecycle.com story).

However, the sudden decline in metal prices and the competition offered by a growing number of “small players” has forced the company to end its UK activities, although the rest of the company remains unaffected.

Administrator SIA Group is believed to be currently seeking a buyer for the company, which recycles electrical and electronic appliances, especially refrigerators, televisions and small household appliances.

A spokesman for the Van Gansewinkel Group said: “The process of ending the company, which may be through a buyer, is going on as we speak and I do not know how long it will take. The fact is that we are ending our activities in the UK and the administrator is working on how to get on with that.”

The company currently employs 40 people, however, their future is now uncertain.

The spokesman said: “It depends on the next step but it is very possible that employees will not have a job even if the company is bought. It is not for sure but it depends on the next step, whatever it may be.”

The Coolrec Group has three factories in the Netherlands, two in Belgium and one in France, and recycles 1.3million fridges and 1.5 million televisions and monitors annually. The company also supplies production companies with raw materials like steel, aluminium, copper and a range of plastics.

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