Welsh recycling plant opens

A new recycling plant that will process thousands of tonnes of waste was opened today in Wrexham.

The PFI initiative will be funded to the tune of £40m by the Welsh Assembly over the next 25 years.

Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson said: "The opening of this new waste recycling facility marks a significant step forward in the collection and treatment of recyclable waste in Wrexham."

The facility also contains an educational centre that the council hopes will be used for school trips and visited by members of the public to encourage uptake of recycling.

The Welsh Assembly Government launched a strategy in April to recycle 70 per cent of household waste and a maximum of five per cent of landfill by 2025.

Wrexham council recycled almost 43 per cent of its waste in the first quarter of 2009, just above the 41 per cent average for Welsh local authorities – a figure that is likely to be improved now the plant has opened.

Wales is ahead of EU targets on reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste that goes to landfill.

In 2007/08 local authorities sent 680,912 tonnes of BMW to landfill compared with the statutory EU Landfill Directive maximum permitted level of 710,000 tonnes for 2009/10 – meaning that Wales has effectively met its statutory target two years early.

There are concerns that many councils in England will not meet the EU targets, largely because of a failure of encouragement from central government.

A recent survey of waste companies found that more than two-thirds thought English councils would miss next year's targets, potentially incurring a £180m fine.