Member of Parliament for North Swindon, Justin Tomlinson, and Adrian Griffiths, CEO, Recycling Technologies, today opened Recycling Technologies’ new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Stirling Court, Swindon.
Recycling Technologies has developed and patented a plastics recycling machine, the RT7000 that converts plastic waste back into an oil called Plaxx® from which new plastics can be made. The machine heats up the plastic in the absence of oxygen to break the waste plastic down into Plaxx®. This process allows the RT7000 to recycle plastics currently considered unrecyclable such as plastic film, laminated food pouches and crisp packets and even black plastics. These unrecyclable plastics are currently exported, incinerated or buried. The RT7000 machines are relatively small scale, allowing them to be located within existing waste management facilities, reducing the financial and environmental costs of transporting residual plastic waste.
Justin Tomlinson, Member of Parliament for North Swindon said:
“I’m delighted Swindon is leading the world in the development of critically required jobs and expertise to recycle waste plastic and that this Swindon-based company is emerging at the forefront of waste plastic recycling engineering and manufacturing to tackle this global problem. This Government has pledged to tackle the scourge of waste plastic and the Chancellor’s recent budget announcement to introduce a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30 per cent recycled content and review of producers’ responsibility will drive additional investment into the UK’s waste plastic recycling industry”
Adrian Griffiths, CEO, Recycling Technologies, said:
“We have a goal to triple Europe’s current plastic recycling capability by 2027 through the provision of 10 million tonnes of urgently needed new waste plastic recycling capacity. Our manufacturing facility here in Stirling Court, Swindon will be capable of manufacturing 200 RT7000 machines a year to meet the growing demand for plastic recycling capacity in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. This facility would not have been possible without the support we have received from our shareholders, staff, the great research and development facilities at the UK’s top universities and business grants from Government and local business development agencies to commercialise this technology. A special thanks is owed to Swindon Borough Council who had the vision to allow us to develop and build our pre-production machine at its recycling centre and help us achieve this milestone in tackling the global problem of waste plastic.”
To meet its production goals, Recycling Technologies intends to recruit in excess of 300 staff, creating high value manufacturing jobs in Swindon. Additionally, the company draws from Swindon and New Colleges with its apprenticeship programme and supports the bid for the Institute of Technology.
This 25,000 square foot factory facility will allow Recycling Technologies to embark on the next stage of its development to manufacture its RT7000 plastics recycling machines for installation in the UK and internationally.
At the opening, Recycling Technologies was also joined by Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, staff, suppliers, councillors, neighbours and organisations from the plastics and waste sectors.
Paddy Bradley, Director of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:“Recycling Technologies is an example of the latest innovation at the heart of Swindon and Wiltshire’s thriving economy. The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) is committed to our area being world-renowned for innovation, entrepreneurialism and our great quality of life. Through our developing Energy Strategy, we will play our part in delivering clean growth and build on our area’s strengths to grow the low carbon economy. SWLEP is delighted to be working with Recycling Technologies to support their growth as they play their part in Swindon and Wiltshire making the UK a global leader in the industries of the future.”
