Viridor has today (27 February) announced a collaboration aimed at allowing Wales and the south west of England to give all plastic consumed in the area a “recycling solution”.
At its ‘Rubbish to Resource’ event held today in Bristol, Viridor brought together 150 representatives from across the supply chain – from councils to those involved in litter picks– to consider the new regional initiative.
Phil Piddington, managing director of Viridor
The initiative aims to ensure that all plastic consumed in the region, such as that from kerbside local authority collections, beach cleans and litter picks, will be sent to the companies that can recycle it.
Viridor’s managing director Phil Piddington said: “We know that this is a region which is investing in the innovation needed to keep plastic out of the natural environment and put it back in the circular economy where it belongs.
“Viridor is investing £65m in the UK’s biggest multi-plastic recycling and reprocessing plant which will help manufacturers use recycled plastic instead of virgin material. But it is not just about one company, the success of this project lies in collaboration, and this is something which this region can lead on and which can be replicated across the UK and globally.
“If we pool our infrastructure and expertise and, most importantly our will, we can together ensure that plastic does not escape the net. This is how we tackle plastic pollution. It is everyone’s concern and everyone’s responsibility. We want to do our bit and show real leadership.”
Viridor has its headquarters in the south west with a head office in Taunton, and is part of the FTSE 250 Pennon Group, based in Exeter.
Support
The initiative was also backed by Peter Maddox, the director of resources charity WRAP.
An artist’s impression of Viridor’s plastic recycling plant, which will process 81,000 tonnes a year of plastic feedstock once operational
Mr Maddox said that collaboration is “crucial” to tackling plastic pollution and tiers into promised made in the UK Plastics Pact.
He said: “Only by bringing the entire supply chain together can we truly transform the way we make, use and dispose of plastic. So, it’s really encouraging to see Viridor driving collaboration on plastics in the South West and South Wales and committing investment for essential new infrastructure.”
Tom Heap, broadcaster and Countryfile presenter, spoke at the event about the changing public attitudes to plastic and the need for an effective solution to problem plastics.
He said: “One thing is clear – collaboration is an effective way to keep plastics out of our natural environment and continuing to flow through the circular economy which is what this conference is all about.”
The post Viridor launches plastics collaboration project appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
