A GLASS recycling firm has opened a new facility in Cwmbran, creating 30 local jobs.
The £2.5million facility, run by Recresco, is based on the Springvale Industrial Estate and recycles glass from households and businesses across Gwent.
Until now much of this has been exported out of the region or sent to landfill as there was only one material recovery facility recycling glass in South Wales.
It provides a local glass recycling base for local councils and household waste sites, as well as private companies who provide bottle bank glass collections and kerbside recycling collections.
Escresco uses the latest glass sorting technology which means the facility can sort 10 tonnes of glass by colour every hour.
Sorting glass by colours makes it more valuable because more of it can be used to make new glass containers.
Clear recycled glass can be used to make new clear bottles and jars. If it is not sorted by colour, much recycled glass is used for other purposes such as producing aggregate for building needs.
The plant currently operates at 50 percent capacity and processes 1,000tonnes each week but is expected to operate at full capacity by the end of the year processing over 100,000 tonnes of glass each year.
Recresco site manager Karl Fenton said: "The new site will result in reduced waste to landfill and reduced carbon emissions as well as providing local benefits in terms of new jobs and improved recycling infrastructure."
