Planned plastics recycling plant will create 100 long-term jobs
Members of the public are invited to find out more about plans to build a new plastics recycling plant at the Port of Sunderland.
Plastic recycling specialist Quantafuel is proposing to build the plastics recycling plant on a 12-acre site on the eastern edge of Port of Sunderland and is preparing to submit a planning application.
Should planning application be approved, is scheduled to open during 2024 and will create around 100 new long-term jobs with the chance of training and apprenticeship opportunities for the local community.
It is also understand that around 200 jobs will also be supported during the construction process.
The Norway-based company was hoping to hold dropin sessions for the public throughout January however they have been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CEO of Quantafuel, Lars Rosenløv, said: “I’m pleased to announce Quantafuel’s expansion into circular plastics in the UK.
“We’ve identified an excellent site in Sunderland and are grateful for the positive welcome from the port and the city council.
“It’s important that we give the local community a chance to look at the plans and find out more, and this is the first step in doing that.
“We’re disappointed that we had to postpone our plans
forcommunitydrop-inevents in January, so we’re making the information available on our website for now.”
If approved, the facility will process low value plastic waste that is currently not recycled in the UK, such as soft food packaging and a variety of domestic and industrial plastics.
It will transform the waste plastics into raw materials that can be used again in the production of high-grade plastic.
The plant will be designed to process more than 110,000 tonnes of plastics that will come from locations across the North of England.
It would use a chemical process, known as pyrolysis, to break down the waste plastic into small fragments in the absence of oxygen.
Mr Rosenløv added: “This is our first step into circular plastics in the UK. At present, there are no environmentally-friendly ways to dispose of these plastics and they are sent to landfill or incinerated or are found littering the countryside and oceans.
"The plant would be a positive step towards helping the UK achieve its net zero targets.”
Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council and Chair of Port of Sunderland, encouraged people to find out more about the plans.
He said: “The Covid pandemic has upset a lot of plans at the moment and, understandably, Quantafuel felt postponing the drop-in events was the safest thing to do.
“I do encourage people to have a look at the detailed information on the Quantafuel website and to feedback comments online. We look forward to the Quantafuel team holding an exhibition of their plans in the city as soon as they’re able.”
Quantafuel is inviting people to view the information at www.quantafuel.com/sunderland and if anyone wishes to get in touch, they can email sunderland@quantafuel.com