Recresco glass recycling plant set for Kent

The three-acre development is being supported by a 5.5 million finance package from bank HSBC and will be the firms fifth UK plant, following Recresco plants at Ellesmere Port, Southampton, Cwmbran and at its head office of Nottingham.

The plant will be able to take 40 tonnes of glass an hour for cleaning and sorting, before removing materials such as ceramics and paper to produce furnace ready cullet to distribute to glass manufacturers. Clear and brown glass will remain predominantly with UK manufacturers and green glass will be exported to European glass producers.

It is hoped that the facility will open around July 2013, according to Recresco national operations manager Karl Fenton. He added that while there were currently no finalised contracts, the facility could take materials recycling facility (MRF) glass from London on top of material from Recrescos other UK plants.

Mr Fenton said that a depot in nearby Northfleet to export finished product from the Swanscombe plant was also being considered by the firm.

Recresco will create 40 new jobs as a result of the expansion and expects the plant to help increase its current turnover of 18 million a year to more than 28 million, according to HSBC. Export sales of processed glass currently account for a quarter of Recrescos sales, but it expects this to increase to 50% as a result of the Swanscombe plant.

Recresco

Recresco was started in 1978 by Alan Gent and is now managed by his four sons. As well as glass, the firm also processes cans, plastic and Tetrapak and currently employs 120 people.

Recresco director, Tim Gent, said: This processing plant will be best in class, with 90% of what we put into the process ending up as furnace ready cullet that we can distribute to manufacturers. We learn something new from each plant we develop so the Northfleet plant is the culmination of many years experience and hard work.

The South East is also a key market that we have been studying for a few years but now we feel is the right time to make the move. Im delighted to have the backing of HSBC for this project; they have demonstrated a real and thorough understanding of our company.

Stephen Hancock, HSBC South Devon and Cornwall area commercial director, added: Recresco is a forward-thinking, ambitious company that has consistently re-invested its profits to ensure it stays innovative and relevant. Trends in recycling change such as the move from bottle banks to mixed recycling but Recresco remains one step ahead.