The facility, which has a capacity of 75,000 tonnes per year, was formally opened by Margaret Bates at an event attended by industry representatives and stakeholders.
Speaking at the opening, Bates said: “When I first started at PackUK, we were talking about what EPR should aim to do. This kind of facility is exactly what we want the scheme to do.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to see the sensible flow of the material through the plant, and really get a feel of the collaborative spirit behind it.”
Positioned strategically to serve Wales and the surrounding region, the Cardiff site has been developed to strengthen local recycling infrastructure while creating employment opportunities.
Staff at the facility will be responsible for material intake, segregation into high-quality baled recyclates, operating mobile plant, and maintaining site operations.
Plan B’s Cardiff MRF
The MRF has been designed with a dual-line system, comprising a container line and a fibre line.
The container line processes plastics, including film, alongside steel cans and aluminium cans, while the fibre line handles paper-based materials.
A key feature of the site is its focus on fire prevention, particularly in response to the growing risk posed by lithium-ion batteries and disposable vapes.
The facility incorporates a fire suppression system supplied by Fireshield, including 12 multi-detection cameras and a remote-controlled automatic foam cannon system.
Additionally, the container line has been engineered so that vapes and batteries are separated early in the process before reaching the baler, reducing ignition risks.
An extension has also been constructed to accommodate inbound material, supporting efficient site logistics and throughput.
‘First of a number of facilities’
The Cardiff MRF aims to be the “first of a number of facilities” for Plan B.
Speaking at the opening, the company indicated that the site forms part of a broader strategy to expand its recycling footprint across the UK.
Development of the site progressed rapidly following planning approval in April 2024. Plan B acquired the site in July 2024, with environmental permitting granted in January 2025.
Construction began in March 2025, with commissioning starting in December 2025 ahead of the official opening.
All project management for the development was delivered in-house by the Plan B team.
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