Mr Bradshaw said after his tour of the M-Real New Thames Recycled Fibre Plant and Paper Mill in Kemsley, near Sittingbourne, that he would like to see more companies seeking to recycle waste from their production processes.
 Ben Bradshaw (left) with local MP Derek Wyatt at M-Real's Kemsley plant |
The minister, who has responsibility in Defra for waste and recycling observed the reprocessing, from delivery of waste paper to its transformation into packs of EVOLVE A4 sheets.
“Achievement”
He said: “The amount of recovered paper handled by the mill is sufficient to fill five Royal Albert Halls a year. Not only is it an important achievement to divert that volume of waste from landfill, but the end product is helping avoid the use of virgin resources.
“The mill is also setting an example through initiatives in waste collection, environmental standards and in finding uses for its own waste. This joined-up approach is something I’d like to see more sectors striving for,” the minister added.
The company sends “sludge”, the unwanted material left after the paper is mixed with water to sort out fibres, to be reused in soil conditioner and bedding at worm farms.
It also sends recovered fibres to schools so pupils can learn how to make their own hand-made recycled paper.
“Encouraged”
Mr Bradshaw was accompanied by Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP
Derek Wyatt, and was shown round the mill by the company's environmental manager Kate Cathie and mill manager Howard Emmett.
Mr Emmett said: “We are keen to expand. We have the capacity to handle more waste than at present, and there is more and more demand for recycled papers. So, we are encouraged by the minister’s support for our efforts and in continuing to play a part in meeting recycling targets.”
The Kemsley mill, which employs 330 people, produces 225,000 tonnes of uncoated business and graphic paper each year.
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