lb10m investment sees new recycling plant open in Derbyshire

Burton-based Willshee’s Waste & Recycling has opened an advanced recycling plant in the Midlands carrying out a £10 million investment.

Willshee’s is really a specialist privately-owned business offering a total waste management service. Managing Director Dean Willshee said: “Opening this new site is a huge step forward for our company in terms of technology, efficiency and also the environment.

“Our new depot, which is in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire is what is actually a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), dealing with waste that has been collected in unsegregated containers.

“This state-of-the-art equipment produces on the third more material that may be reused versus other plant – extracting wood, soil, plastic, metal and rubble from general waste.

“With a process involving three stages of shredding and a sophisticated system of shredding, screening, air separation, magnets, and near-infrared technology, we could extract every last piece of recyclable material.

“What is left, is made into Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) which is then used by manufacturers. Cement works will use SRF in their kilns, for example. The other great thing about SRF is that it is already carbon offset – creating more environmentally friendly energy from waste.”

Heather Wheeler MP for South Derbyshire said: “I was delighted to support Willshee’s with their bid to open up this state-of-the-art commercial collection and recycling centre. It had been a perfect venue, re-purposing an old railhead.

“Everyone is so alive to the have to recycle nowadays and this is as vital for businesses as it is for our homes. Now that it has opened If only them every success with this particular venture.”

The Swadlincote facility is run by solar panels – with the excess power being sold back to the national grid.

Willshee’s is now in its 37th year and employs over 100 staff across its Burton and Swadlincote sites.