A major industrial investment could see 80 jobs created in Grimsby, if a £20 million plastic-reprocessing plant is given the go-ahead.

The scheme — proposed for part of the former Courtaulds site — would produce diesel, petrol and LPG from plastics that would otherwise end up in landfill.

Integrated Green Energy Solutions Ltd (IGE) is the company behind the Humber Gate Plastic to Fuel Plant. It hopes to convert 65,000 tonnes of plastic into 69 million litres of fuel annually.

Eight sites have been looked at in the UK, and the company has attracted finance from the USA to back the development of the first four.

The Grimsby area has almost 50 years of refining expertise, with Phillips 66 Humber Refinery, Total Lindsey Oil Refinery and Greenergy’s biodiesel refinery at Immingham underpinning a strong petrochemical cluster.

In a statement, IGE Solutions said: “The proposed facility will utilise end-of-life plastics that would otherwise be landfilled.

“The 200 tonnes per day of non-recyclable plastics will be reprocessed into road-ready diesel and petrol.

“Our proven proprietary technology meets world best-practice standards in emissions management and produces a 38% reduced carbon footprint when compared to traditionally produced diesel fuels.

“The Grimsby facility will also be the company’s head office for the UK and Europe.”