September 8th 2023
Doubling Welsh capacity to reprocess plastic
£45m investment will also create more than 100 new jobs at the former Toyoda Gosei factory in Swansea.
An advanced facility capable of processing more than 100,000 tonnes of flexible and rigid plastics a year is to be developed in Wales by Jayplas, the UK’s largest plastics recycler.
Photo by Nick Fewings
Once operational, the facility will reduce the carbon footprint of Wales by some 150,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to taking 120,000 cars off the road.
Founded in Loughborough in 1975, Jayplas now processes some 250,000 tonnes of waste per year at sites across the UK, from domestic, retail, commercial and industrial markets.
The new facility will develop in three distinct phases. First, there will be a mixed kerbside rigid plastics and film sorting plant. Then there’ll be a bottle wash and extrusion plant and finally a flexible packaging wash and processing plant.
Vaughan Gething, Minister for the Economy, says: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Jayplas to Swansea for this significant development and vote of confidence in our workforce and net zero ambitions.
‘Increasing capacity to reprocess and recycle plastic here in Wales opens opportunities to create an innovative and sustainable industry. This project includes significant skilled and green job creation, supports our decarbonisation journey, increases our reprocessing and recycling capacity and supports a stronger, fairer and greener economy.’
Julie James, Minister for Climate Change, adds: ‘I am very pleased to see this facility being developed in Wales. It aligns with our commitment to move to a zero waste, net zero carbon Wales and is well timed as we work to bring in the new Workplace Recycling Regulations in April next year, which will further improve the supply of high-quality plastic for recycling.’
Kerry O’Neill, Commercial Manager at Jayplas says: ‘Jayplas are delighted to announce we are opening a Plastics Processing and Manufacturing plant in Swansea. We have worked closely with the Welsh Government to expand our operations into Wales. We will utilise the latest, state of the art technology to ensure we have market leading facilities producing the highest quality products and bring long term investment and sustainable employment to the area.’
Shigenori Matsuo, Managing Director of Toyoda Gosei UK Ltd. (TGUK) adds: ‘I am delighted that TGUK had created a lasting legacy for the site in Swansea to provide Jayplas with a strong foundation for developing a state of the art facility, investment, growth and employment in the area.’
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