A new £20m recycling plant in Corby is processing more than 30,000 tonnes of soft plastic waste a year, including crisp packets, frozen food bags and film wrapping.
The facility, which opened last month, has three production lines that turn retailers’ waste into small grey pellets. These can then be used elsewhere to make new food packaging, helping keep more of the material in the UK.
The plant is operated by Reconomy and is one of the largest of its kind in the country. It has created around 30 full-time jobs.
The investment comes as the UK’s recycling capacity faces pressure. Plastic recycling capacity fell by 22% between 2023 and 2025, according to a Ceres report commissioned by Viridor. Meanwhile, 675,000 tonnes of UK plastic waste was exported in 2024, according to the Basel Action Network.
Government plans for councils in England to offer kerbside soft plastic collections have been delayed from 2027 to 2030, giving local authorities more time to prepare. The extra time also highlights the need for more facilities capable of handling the material.
Why it matters for Britain
The Corby plant adds domestic capacity for a type of waste that has often been sent overseas, while supporting about 30 local jobs. It could also help the UK prepare for wider soft plastic collections, provided households follow their council’s recycling guidance and avoid “wish-cycling”.
