Cuddy Recycling Ltd – a start up company supported by the Welsh Government – is investing £1.2m to create the first wood, plasterboard and gypsum recycling centre in South Wales which will create twenty two jobs.
Backed by £228,000 from the Welsh Economic Growth Fund, the purpose built centre will be based on the former Wern Works site in Briton Ferry which, subject to planning, will be partially demolished and redeveloped.
The new centre will process and recycle demolition aggregate from construction and demolition projects across Wales, as well as waste timber and plasterboard sourced from the construction industry and civil amenity sites.
It aims to provide a green alternative to landfill with waste timber used for animal bedding, panel board manufacture and Biomass fuel, with the option of introducing a garden mulch product at a later date.
Aggregates will be sorted for reuse in construction companies.
Plasterboard will, where possible, be taken back to plasterboard manufacture, or the Gypsum recycled as a soil conditioner for agricultural purposes . There is also potential for use as a cement additive to slow down the rate at which cement sets in the manufacturing process.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said:” This project supports two of our key economic sectors – providing a specific service for the construction sector while the new business will operate in the energy and environment industry – one of the fastest growing sectors in the Welsh economy with waste management – the largest sub sector.
“Companies working in this area are not only making a significant contribution in terms of job creation and financial impact but by reducing waste to landfill they are helping us achieve recycling targets and ensure we are creating a sustainable environment for future generations.
“The proposed new centre will provide an important facility to deal with construction and demolition waste and I am pleased to support this new start up through the Economic Growth Fund.”
The business has been started up by brothers Mike and John Cuddy, who are also directors of Cuddy Group.
Mike Cuddy from Cuddy Recycling said: “We are making a considerable investment in this new facility and grateful for the support of the Welsh Government. There is a real market need in Wales for a facility capable of recycling construction / demolition and earthworks waste as currently some waste products have to be taken to the Midlands for disposal.
“We are keen to introduce some very green sustainable recycling initiatives and provide a first class services for companies in Wales and parts of England. We are currently working with Natural Resources Wales to attain all the necessary environmental permits to operate a licensed Waste Management facility with a view to commence work in Spring 2015.”