The plant will recycle rubbish into raw material

First Minister Rhodri Morgan opened the doors at the �3.5m facility at Recylo Limited in Sandycroft.

The 70,000 sq ft plant has been built to help reach assembly government recycling targets.

The 10-acre site will employ 17 people initially. More staff employed when a composting centre opens at the site.

Reuse, recycle and compost is the way forward and the Recyclo plant is at the heart of this drive First Minister Rhodri Morgan

The first minister has said that the centre is a key initiative in the drive to safe Wales' dwindling landfill capacity.

"Reuse, recycle and compost is the way forward and the Recyclo plant is at the heart of this drive," he said.

"Wales recycles 16% of its municipal waste at the moment and the Assembly Government provides grants to help local authorities reach targets of 25% by 2006 / 2007.

"This facility will make a significant contribution towards better recycling and composting in Flintshire and Denbighshire."

Raw material

Recyclo's declared strategy is to think of waste as a resource, not as a problem.

After sorting and processing, materials that were previously considered scrap will become valuable raw material for customers - paper mills, plastics and steel recyclers, fibre board and plywood manufacturers.

The site was chosen following extensive investigation into suitable locations, according to company general manager Tony Williams.

"It is important to minimise the environmental impact of a recycling operation," he said.

"The site needs to be near major towns, in order to reduce traffic pollution caused by transporting waste to the site, as well as in a position that creates minimal local intrusion.

"This site is ideal as it was an existing industrial area and complies with the local authority planning framework.

"We have ensured that all areas of waste storage and processing are constructed in accordance with Environment Agency standards."

The company says that care has been taken in the planning process to ensure minimal environmental impact.

Wales currently recycle 16% of waste

It promises that all site operations, involving a potential for dust, take place within the 70,000 sq ft building where air mist systems have been installed in areas with increased dust risk.

It also says that drains from waste storage areas "flow into sealed sumps which can be emptied as required".

Highly mechanised sorting lines and air conditioned sorting cabins will help the company's staff sift through discarded wood, ferrous and non-ferrous metal and plastic materials.