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Northern Ireland Environment Minister Edwin
Poots has launched Wright Recycling and visited their new
facilities in action at their Newtownards recycling centre.
Wright Recycling is a re-launch of Wright
Skips reflecting how it has evolved from a collection
and dumping firm to a 'one-stop-shop' recycling business.
Speaking on the visit, Mr Poots said - “This is much more
than a change in name for Wright Recycling. The journey that
this company has travelled from Wright Skips to Wright Recycling
reflects the value of the recycling industry.
“This is becoming increasingly important to the Northern
Ireland economy - in 2007, the recycling sector accounted
for around 1000 jobs with a turnover of £180 million.”
Wright Skips opened in 1994 with one skip lorry that collected
waste and sent it to landfill. The organisation today has
30 employees and has invested in new recycling technology
that enables more material - such as mixed paper and low quality
plastic - to be separated during the sorting process.
The increased capacity, as a result of investment in this
technology, has meant that Wright Recycling is able to take
waste from Scotland for sorting. This means that, instead
of burying it in the ground, this separated waste can be turned
into a valuable resource.
The Minister concluded - “This is a win-win situation - it
generates local jobs, boosts investment in the Northern Ireland
economy and helps divert waste from landfill.
“Failure to meet landfill targets will result in fines that
could run to millions of pounds per annum - fines that would
ultimately be borne by the ratepayer. This means that every
organisation and householder in Northern Ireland has an interest
in meeting these targets.
“Companies like Wright Recycling, that are prepared to invest
in innovative technology to turn waste into practical products,
are helping to reach these targets. I would encourage all
companies to realise the economic and environmental benefits
of the waste and recycling industry.”
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