SCA Recycling launches Materials Recycling Facility in Southampton to expand into the post-consumer market

(23/10/2009)

SCA Recycling has launched its new £15m Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Southampton, Hampshire. The new facility, at Hounsdown Business Park, Totton, marks the company’s expansion into the post-consumer market with the recovery of paper, plastics, metals and glass from local authority, and industrial and commercial sources.

At the heart of the new facility is SCA Recycling’s advanced optical sorting equipment, which is the first of its kind to be used in a UK MRF. The equipment uses high-speed near infrared technology to identify and sort different types of plastic. The units are uniquely designed with parallel detection and ejection points to produce high performance results in terms of material capture and purity.

Conducting the official opening of SCA Recycling’s MRF, former 400m runner and Olympic silver medalist, Roger Black said: “My family and I are keen recyclers and I’m really pleased to be here to support such an important cause. SCA Recycling’s new MRF epitomises the efforts of the UK to improve the quality and quantity of recycling. Helping the South recycle more can only be a good thing!”

“What this means for the region is two-fold. Firstly the new facility will set new standards for recycling up and down the country, but equally important is the new jobs that the facility will create for the local community at such an important time,” added Roger.

The 124,000 square foot building is capable of operating on a 24 hour, 7 day per week basis, with the capacity to process up to 200,000 tonnes per annum. Operational activities will be fully enclosed and up to 80 new jobs will eventually be created by the development.

Ken Stevens, MD of SCA Recycling said, “This is a fantastic day for SCA Recycling and Hampshire. Our plant utilises the best available technology to produce material to the highest quality standards. We aim to operate the facility to the highest operational and environmental standards with transparency and sustainability at the core of our offer. With our long-standing experience in the recovered paper sector this is an unprecedented opportunity to develop quality partnerships with both new and existing customers.”

Related categories:  Glass recycling   Metal recycling   Paper and cardboard recycling   Plastic recycling