Business Secretary Vince Cable has opened a new multi-million pound milk bottle plastic recycling line at Closed Loop Recycling in Dagenham.
While opening the facility, he cited Closed Loop Recycling as a great example of a company that is stimulating demand, creating jobs and building infrastructure for the long term development of the green economy.
Closed Loop Recycling is implementing a £12 million investment that will make it the biggest recycler of milk bottles in the world, increasing capacity to 55,000 tonnes per year and creating the most advanced plastics purification facility in the world.
Vince Cable said: “This new recycling line will create jobs and growth in a growing green industry. The significant investment in the Dagenham plant will also mean less of our plastic bottles being sent to landfill or exported for recycling. It is precisely the sort of project which can support the UK’s transition to a green economy.
“Closed Loop Recycling is a fantastic example of how the private investment sector has identified a ground breaking and sustainable green manufacturing technology. This type of success story will continue to provide confidence for future investment and underpin continued economic growth. Supporting robust green companies will lock in green prosperity for the long term and lock carbon out.”
Closed Loop Recycling chief executive Chris Dow added: “Recycled milk and water bottles are a massive win for the circular economy. We discussed with the Secretary of State and his team how we can provide economic drivers to reprocess these valuable resources in the UK, rather than being exported abroad for recycling. We can then work to influence recycling behaviour across the supply chain, from consumers to brands, in order to increase collection rates.”
The company also revealed that it will use heat from nearby food recycler TEG to heat the wash lines for its recycled plastic.
