The 138,000 sq. ft site, located in Northamptonshire, is expected to become one of the UK’s largest dedicated plastic recycling plants focused on supporting supermarkets, grocers and retailers with closed-loop recycling systems.
Construction of the facility is nearing completion, with the plant scheduled to become fully operational in the second half of 2026.
At full capacity, it is expected to process up to 38,000 tonnes of plastic annually, creating more than 30 jobs in the local area.
Commenting on the project, Zubair Bajwa, Operations Director at Reconomy brand Eurokey, said: “We are very proud to play a leading role in strengthening the UK’s plastic recycling industry at this critical time.
“For over 30 years, our business has helped leading UK supermarkets and retailers maximise 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.
“We also believe very strongly in delivering tangible, positive benefits for the local communities in which we operate, and we are delighted by the support we have received from the community in Corby for this site, which will create over 30 new jobs.”
Multiple grades of plastics recycling
The site will handle multiple grades of plastic material that have been pre-sorted at Eurokey’s nearby facility in Kettering.
Once processed, the material will be converted into plastic pellets suitable for use in new packaging, enabling supermarkets to reuse recycled content in their supply chains.
Eurokey said that the proximity between the Corby plant and its Kettering sorting facility – less than ten miles apart – will reduce reliance on exports, cut transportation costs and emissions, and support a reduction in the use of virgin plastics.
The company works with some of the UK’s largest retailers and supermarkets, and said that the investment will enable them to recycle plastic material domestically.
Mike Benton, Recycle Loop Managing Director of Reconomy, added: “This is an exceptional milestone for our business and for the UK’s plastics recycling industry.
“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.”
Reconomy acquired Eurokey in March 2021.
