Plastics plant planned for Sunderland Port will extend recycling and bring 100 new jobs
A PLANNING bid has been submitted for a new plastics upcycling plant that will create 100 jobs in Sunderland and handle plastic materials that are not currently recycled.
Quantafuel Sunderland – part of a Norwegian specialist recycling company – is applying for permission to build the plastics processing plant on a 12-acre site on the eastern edge of Port of Sunderland.
It will take plastics not currently recycled from across the north of England and melt them down to be recycled.
It will be the first UK plant operated by Quantafuel and will chemically recycle plastics to produce a substitute for fossil oil, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 50% compared to incineration. The oil produced will then be used to produce new, high-quality products.
Quantafuel submitted the planning application after holding consultation events in the local community in March, and distributing leaflets to thousands of homes, inviting people to find out about the plans.
People are still able to view the information boards at www.quantafuel.com/sunderland
Last month, Quantafuel signed an option agreement with the leader of Sunderland City Council, Coun Graeme Miller, which means the firm has first option to develop the land.
Lars Rosenløv, chief executive of Quantafuel, said: “New facilities are needed to help deal with plastic waste and we believe this proposal is a long-term, sustainable alternative to incineration and landfill that will provide significant environmental benefits, whilst also creating new jobs in Sunderland.
“We have considered our plans in detail and have consulted widely with the community and are delighted to have now submitted a planning application. We look forward to further engagement with the community during the summer as we await the outcome of the planning decision in autumn.”
Cllr Claire Rowntree, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, said the council had worked hard to attract investment into the port and was excited about the development of new, low-carbon businesses on the site, which will boost the UK’s circular economy.
“The port is key to the city’s development plans and we continue to invest in it to develop our rail, road, and sea links, which are vital to attracting such global investment,” she said.
“We look forward to working with Quantafuel as it develops its plans through the planning process.”
Subject to planning permission, Quantafuel is planning to open the plastics recycling plant in 2024, creating around 100 long-term jobs.
It will also support around 200 jobs during construction, and create training and apprenticeship opportunities for the local community.
If approved, the facility will be designed to process around 100,000 tonnes of low-value plastic waste, such as soft food packaging and a variety of domestic and industrial plastics.
Using pyrolysis to heat and melt the plastics, it will transform the waste into raw materials that can be used again in the production of high-grade plastic. Currently, this waste is sent to landfill or incinerated.
The raw materials produced will be shipped from the port to customers in the petrochemical industry, while gas produced will be used to power the plant.
