A plastics recycling firm is gearing up to operate at full capacity and create new jobs in Medway after urgent help from Locate in Kent to identify the perfect site.
Recapture Plastics launched from its new base on the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate, Hoo, at the start of the New Year with the help of Kent County Council’s TIGER Loan Scheme (Regional Growth Fund). Initially employing six people, it aims to have created up to 20 jobs in total by the summer.
The company takes large plastic goods such as bread trays, pipework and garden furniture, strips out non-plastic elements and produces clean plastic pellets, which are sold to manufacturers.
“We had another site in Kent which had taken a year to find and which we were finalising the contract on when the company we were dealing with went into administration,” said Neale Buttery, joint Managing Director of Recapture Plastics. “That left us needing to find a new site quickly, but one that met tight criteria.”
As a recycling operation, Recapture needed a site that met with Environment Agency approval.
“We operate outside of normal office hours and have a lot of lorry movements, so we were looking for somewhere well away from residential areas,” said Neale.
“Many landlords hear the word ‘waste’ and imagine heaps of black plastic household sacks, which can put them off. However, the process at Recapture employs the latest technology in plastics recycling and is a very clean operation.”
While doing an internet search, Neale visited the Locate in Kent website where he found two or three possibilities, including the Kingsnorth site.
“I spoke to Chris Broom at Locate in Kent who knew the site owners and the agent handling the sale, as well as a lot of other useful contacts,” said Neale. “He put us in touch with all the right people and his help proved invaluable in pushing the deal through.
“It’s a perfect site really. We are in the shadow of the power station and well away from any local housing. We’re an indoor operation, so any casual passer-by really wouldn’t know what goes on here. We’re not disturbing anyone.”
Chris Broom of Locate in Kent said: “Our website property search is a great starting point for companies looking for premises, whether they are new to the county or looking to relocate within Kent and Medway.
“Recapture Plastics had a very defined set of criteria it needed to meet for a suitable base, but we helped them find what they were looking for quickly, and we are happy to have been able to help make the necessary introductions and help ease the purchase through.”
