Wincanton set to open second WEEE recycling plant

The facility will require an investment of more than £5 million by the company, doubling the WEEE recycling capacity offered by its current plant in Billingham, Teeside, which opened in 2006 (see letsrecycle.com story).

If built, the Midlands plant would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in the North-East by using technology developed and manufactured by German engineering company MeWa, and will process up to 100,000 tonnes of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) per year.

The company's managing director, Gordon Scott, explained that the Daventry site – which it hopes to have up-and-running by the end of the year – would also support the firm's national network of centres that identify WEEE for either reuse or recycling.

“The significant investment in the new site demonstrates Wincanton's continuing commitment to the treatment and recycling of WEEE,” he said.

“Our ability to provide a complete refurbishment, sortation and recycling service to retailers, manufacturers and local authorities across the UK will be strengthened by the new Midlands facility, which will double our current WEEE recycling capacity,” Mr Scott added.

Partnership

Wincanton's announcement comes soon after the company revealed an extension of its ongoing partnership with electrical products manufacturer and retailer Comet.

In addition to its existing contracts with the firm relating to refrigerators, white goods and WEEE recycling, Wincanton will now be responsible for a nationwide reverse logistics and asset recovery service.

This will involve collecting returns and end-of-life stock from Comet's clearance centres and home delivery platforms, with the products then sent to be assessed within its sortation network.

Any WEEE that Wincanton identifies as being suitable for reuse will be removed, and, if possible, sold on, with the remaining stock transported to its existing Billingham facility to be recycled.

Value

Comet's head of services development, Phil Heaton, highlighted the reasons behind their decision to expand their collaboration with Wincanton.

He said: “The services that Wincanton has provided to us to date have added significant value to our operations and ensured that we met compliance ahead of the introduction of the WEEE legislation last year.

“The business is well-positioned to offer advice on how we can improve the efficiencies in our supply chain and we are looking forward to further developing our relationship with Wincanton” he added.

Wincanton's has worked with Comet since 2003, when the Somerset-based company began its contract to support the retailer's fridge take-back (see letsrecycle.com story https://www.letsrecycle.com/materials/glass/news.jsp?story=2242).