Business Secretary Vince Cable officially opened a new recycled glass clean-up extension at Ward Recycling Limited’s recycling facility in Middlesborough yesterday (26 March).
The £450,000 glass clean-up extension covers 5,000 square feet of the glass beneficiation plant and will clean incoming glass material to be recycled for further use, for example, in water filtration media.
The system forms part of Ward Recycling’s wider £3.2 million investment in the recycling plant, which has been supported by a £500,000 grant from Let’s Grow, a Regional Growth Fund programme operated by independent business services provider BE Group in partnership with accountancy firm UNW LLP and newspapers The Journal and Middlesbrough Evening Gazette.
It is expected to add up to 56 jobs to the company’s current workforce of 146.
Cable was given a tour of the site, which processes around 1,300 tonnes of recycling each week.
Extension the sign of a ‘strong manufacturing sector’
Upon unveiling a plaque to mark the facility’s opening, Cable said: “A strong manufacturing sector is at the heart of a sustainable economy, driving growth and enabling British businesses to have the confidence to invest and innovate.
“Today I was pleased to see Ward Recycling’s impressive expansion plans. Their state-of-the-art facility will enable them to exploit overseas markets and increase their workforce.
“Through the Regional Growth Fund, we have supported businesses to make their ambitions a reality, while generating significant private sector investment and creating highly-skilled jobs.”
Gareth Godwin, Manager at Ward Recycling, added: “The Business Secretary’s visit has been a great way to mark the latest stage of our ambitious expansion.
“This investment represents the progress we’ve made as a company and has gone a long way to establishing the area as a hub for the green energy industry.”
Established in 2002, Ward Recycling operates nationwide bring bank collection services, dry recycling sorting and kerbside collections.
Find out more about Ward Recycling Limited.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.