Recycling Minister tours leading MRF in Suffolk

Waste and Recycling Minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach toured Viridor's Masons Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Great Blakenham, Suffolk to see first-hand how such facilities are transforming collected mixed dry recyclables into high quality commodities and helping the UK achieve its ambitious recycling targets.

The Masons MRF sorts and processes recyclable materials collected via convenient commingled kerbside services by the Suffolk Recycling Consortium, a well-established partnership between Babergh, Forest Heath, Ipswich, Mid-Suffolk, St Edmundsbury and Suffolk Coastal Councils.

The SRC authorities are amongst the highest recyclers in the country with a combined recycling rate of over 50 per cent – the average in England is 42 per cent.

Dan Cooke, director of external affairs for Viridor welcomed Lord Taylor's visit. He said: "We were pleased to show Lord Taylor and members of the Suffolk Waste Partnership how these facilities are helping the UK achieve high levels of recycling in a cost-effective way. All of our MRFs utilise advanced-sorting technology, complemented by strict quality control systems, to recover high-spec recyclables that meet the demands of manufacturers to then be transformed into new products.

"The Masons recycling plant paved the way for the new generation of this type of facilities, and is an great example of best practice partnership work between the public and private sectors."

The Masons recycling facility, together with other Viridor MRFs, is accredited under the Recycling Registration Scheme (RRS), The RRS, developed by the Environmental Services Association and the Environment Agency, ensures quality control protocols are in place so that high quality recyclate is produced by Materials Recycling Facilities.

After the visit Lord Taylor of Holbeach said: "We want to see more partnerships across councils that deliver efficient and value-for-money bin collection services that local residents want. I was very impressed with the efforts the councils made to keep their householders informed.

"Materials Recycling Facilities like Masons that are used properly and measure the quality of recyclates are key to making sure we make it easier for people to do the right thing by recycling more, while also delivering good quality recycling."