WRAP Helps Recresco Establish The UK’s First Tri-colour Glass Sorting Facility

Representing an investment in excess of £0.5 million, the new Recresco plant is nationally significant because it provides a means of diverting low value mixed glass from the export market by separating clear, amber and green glass and producing high value glass cullet for use in the UK. This innovative new tri-colour glass sorting plant is based in the Wirral.

"Encouraging the UK market to use more recycled materials and developing new markets for them is a key aim for us. Thanks to WRAP´s help, we have a business plan that supports our vision and the technology to produce 99% pure recycled coloured glass in commercial quantities," says Tim Gent, Director of Recresco.

This is not the first time that Recresco has applied successfully to WRAP´s Business Support one-stop shop for help. It is the second time in as many years that they have received support through the eQuip asset finance scheme and WRAP has also helped the company to develop a long term business plan.

The company first came to WRAP for support two years ago when demand for their services began to outstrip processing capacity. They applied for support under the eQuip Residual Value Guarantee scheme, which helps recyclers to secure finance by guaranteeing the future residual value of leased recycling equipment.

On that occasion, the company received help to secure a £300,000 deal with Bank of Scotland Corporate, enabling it to lease two glass separators, a plastic baler and a colour glass pre-sorter - the first time that Magnetic Separation Systems (MSS) colour sorting technology was used in the UK.

The latest investment in new equipment, secured through the eQuip scheme, has helped to bring the company the additional capacity it needs and brings the total value of the support they have received via WRAP´s one-stop shop to almost £1 million. The new glass processing plant is again based around MSS technology, and is capable of taking in mixed kerbside material and sorting it into clear, amber and green glass simultaneously. The investment has also enabled the company to acquire a Powerscreen triple deck grader, Redox air separator and Atherton feed hopper and conveyors.

The most immediate challenge for Recresco now is continuing to keep pace with the demand for its glass recycling services, as Tim Gent explains. "The increase in kerbside collections means we are being asked to process more and more mixed glass and we have to keep up with demand. In the last six years, we have seen volume increase from 15,000 tonnes per year to a projected 160,000 tonnes this year.

"As the only one-stop shop dedicated to helping recycling companies, I´m sure that WRAP Business Support will continue to play a role in our development."