Dagenham’s revolutionary new plant is a ‘step change’ in plastics recycling

27 June 2008

IT’S the first plant in the world that recycles mixed plastic bottles back into food-grade packaging – and it opened in Dagenham, East London yesterday.

The company behind the plant, which uses state-of-the-art technology, is the Australian-owned Closed Loop Recycling.

The £12 million plant can reprocess 35,000 tonnes of milk and soft drink bottles yearly.

Closed Loop Recycling managing director Chris Dow said: “This plant represents the evidence that the UK is undergoing a recycling revolution. Until now there has been no facility to recycle bottles back into plastic food packaging.

“The industry and consumer are now viewing recycled plastic in a completely new light. It is no longer waste. It is a valuable resource. In addition, each plastic bottle that we recycle reduces the bottle's carbon footprint by around 25%.”

The facility is being funded by £4.7 million in private equity from investment firm Foresight Group, based in Sevenoaks, and also by Closed Loop Environmental Solutions in Australia and grants from WRAP and the London Development Agency.

WRAP chief executive Dr Liz Goodwin said the plant represented a "step change" in plastics recycling.

“WRAP is currently focused on a range of key developments which are delivering a step change in plastics recycling in the UK,” she said.

“The new Closed Loop Recycling London plant represents an exciting and significant move forward in the UK's ability to recycle plastic, which saves natural resources, reduces carbon and delivers real action on climate change."

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “Londoners want to be green and recycle more, so it is welcome news that this state-of-the-art recycling plant in Dagenham is now open to recycle tonnes of the capital's plastic waste that was previously destined for landfill. This is good for London and good for the environment."

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