The 100,000 tonne-a-year capacity plant was opened yesterday (February 9) in a ceremony attended by Rhodri Morgan, first minister at the Welsh Assembly Government.
It is also being used to reprocess computers and computer equipment which cannot be reused and refurbished from one of the company's three asset management and recovery sites across the UK.
The new plant uses “specialist technology” to separate out materials including copper, aluminium and plastic polymers which are then sold on to substitute raw materials in the manufacture of new products.
Work on the facility began at the 12-acre site in March 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story), and it increases the company's footprint in the city to 36 acres.
Its 100,000 tonne-a-year capacity is based on the plant operating on a single shift, but the company said that if necessary this could be increased. The firm previously reprocessed WEEE at its Manchester plant, which has reached a 35,000 tonne-a-year capacity on a two-shift basis.
Red letter day
Speaking at the event, Mr Morgan compared the opening of the plant to the Welsh rugby union team's success over Scotland the previous day: “I believe this is a red letter day for Wales just as much as yesterday was.”
“I hope the facility is going to be good business for Sims,” he said, adding that “I believe Wales can be very proud”.
Mr Morgan also emphasised the importance of the facility in recovering metals which were “poison” when they got into the environment.
The plant received financial support from the Welsh Assembly Government, and Mr Morgan commented: “This new investment by Sims Recycling Solutions – supported by the Assembly Government – makes this facility not only the biggest but the most advanced recycling centre in Britain.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, Dan Dienst, group chief executive for Sims Metal Management, claimed that the plant was in-line with the company's “mantra”.
“This is a remarkable facility, right at that crossroads of doing well and doing good,” he said.
Graham Davy, chief executive of Sims Europe and Sims Recycling Solutions, told the event: “You will not see a facility like this anywhere else in the world.”
“This is the best example anywhere in this sector of how technology can reduce the impact of climate change,” he commented.
“Although times are difficult at present, we are confident that in the long term this world class facility will pay dividends in attracting new business, safeguarding jobs and making a significant contribution to the local economy,” he said.
Low-balling
At the opening, Mr Davy also expressed his concern at the “low-balling” of prices by some producer compliance schemes.
He told letsrecycle.com that, with low-cost reprocessing options available, “The PCS are looking at those figures and saying 'that's the price'”.
He explained that, while schemes' tendering documents highlighted issues such as health and safety and corporate social responsibility, their real focus was on getting as low a price as possible for reprocessing.
“Our plant is safer, but there's a cost to that,” he explained, highlighting the segregation of materials, walkways and “free movement” of vehicles offered by the Newport plant.
And, he also emphasised the higher levels of recovery offered at the Newport plant, citing the example of chemicals recovered from fridges, than at some lower-cost alternatives.
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