Planning permission has been granted for a new plastics recycling plant in Sunderland – creating more than 300 jobs.
Quantafuel Sunderland Ltd – a subsidiary of the specialist recycling company based in Norway – will build the plastics processing plant on a key 12-acre site on the eastern edge of Port of Sunderland.
The plant will take mixed plastic waste from across the north of England that would otherwise have been incinerated or disposed of in landfill.
Using pyrolysis technology (heating without oxygen), the materials will be heated so they melt and break down into raw materials (pyrolysis oils) that can be used again in the manufacture of new products, including high-grade plastics.
It will be the first plant operated by Quantafuel in the UK to recycle plastics, which reduces C02 emissions by around 70% compared to incineration.
Construction is expected to get underway later this year, with the plant opening in 2025.
The new plant will support 200 jobs during construction and will create over 100 new, full-time posts when it opens.
Apprenticeship and training positions will also be available. Quantafuel is already working with Sunderland College and is in discussion with local universities and training centres to ensure positions are made available to people in the area.
It has also given an undertaking to liaise with the community in the East End of Sunderland about vacancies.
Winifred Patricia Johansen, Director of Quantafuel Sunderland, thanked the City Council and port for their welcoming and ambitious approach and said she looked forward to working with them to create a plant that could become a key part of Sunderland’s future growth and Net Zero plans.
“We’re hoping to open similar plants across the UK but chose Sunderland as our first development as the port provides an ideal location, and the city has a good, skilled workforce to draw on,” she said.
“Working with the local community is extremely important to us. We met with Sunderland College and members of the East End community last year and we hope to develop those relationships further as the plant takes shape. We will be holding job fairs and community liaison events to ensure local people gain real benefits.”
After the meeting, Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller, who is also Chair of Port of Sunderland, said: “We’re a city transforming and growing, and this major investment from Quantafuel demonstrates what we have to offer global companies, and our transition to becoming a key investment hub for innovative businesses in the sustainable technologies and green industries.
The raw materials produced in the plant will be shipped from the port to customers in the petrochemical industry to be used again, while self-generated gas (NCG) will be used to power the plant.
Port Director Matthew Hunt said: “In recent years, there has been huge investment and effort to stimulate interest and growth at the port. It’s great to see these efforts paying off with Quantafuel investing, alongside new businesses, such as Wastefront and Brineflow.
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