3-D render of the proposed waste tyre recycling plant at the Port of Sunderland

Norway-based recycling start-up Wastefront AS is planning to open its first waste tyre recycling plant at the Port of Sunderland.

The company will use new and existing certified technology to convert locally-sourced end-of-life tyres (ELTs) into useful commodities, including liquid hydrocarbons and carbon black, which can then be re-used in processes such as alternative fuels or ground rubber manufacturing.

The construction of the plant, subject to planning consent, is expected to begin in early 2021 and will generate around 100 jobs in the region. Once fully up and running, in the second half of 2022, the facility will employ around 30 people.

Wastefront recently received funding from the Norwegian state-owned company and national development bank, Innovation Norway and it is supported by government agency, The Research Council of Norway (Skattefunn).

Wastefront’s decision to invest in Port of Sunderland was influenced by co-founder and director, Christian Hvamstad, (pictured below) a former student at the University of Sunderland.

He said: “The construction of our first-ever plant at Port of Sunderland marks a huge step in Wastefront’s efforts to combat the global issue of ELT waste.

“Our ambition is to create a new circular economy for dealing with waste issues, and a crucial element of sustainable waste-handling is to be able to do so locally.

“Wastefront’s first plant in Sunderland will represent a valuable contribution to a cleaner future by dealing with a specific waste problem, where end-of-life tyres no longer end up in landfill sites, but instead are converted into useful commodities that can be used within the region.

“The UK is a global centre of industry which we want to be a part of, while Sunderland is the ideal location for our first plant due to geographical location, access to feedstock, strong local support and Sunderland’s history as an industrial city.”

Port of Sunderland is currently undergoing a major transformation bolstered by an £8.2 million investment, after areas of its estate were granted Enterprise Zone (EZ) status in 2017 — with a key aim of attracting new investment – and Wastefront is the latest in a string of businesses to invest in the North Sea hub.

Matthew Hunt, Port of Sunderland director, said: “We are delighted that Wastefront has chosen to construct its first ever plant at Port of Sunderland and we are looking forward to working with Christian and the team to bring their vision to life.

“Port of Sunderland is currently undergoing a major transformation, with over £8 million being pumped into improving its roads and infrastructure, and the decision by Wastefront to invest here shows just how much confidence this is breeding among our stakeholders and the wider market.”

The port is owned by Sunderland City Council who has led the charge with investment, with land and equipment acquisitions that have spurred on the development of the estate, as well as significant improvements to infrastructure to pave the way for investment.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council and chair of the port board, said: “Port of Sunderland is a significant asset, both in terms of its traditional shipping activity capabilities and its ability to become an economic driver, attracting jobs and investment into the city.

“We have seen the estate transformed over the last decade, and more and more investment is pouring in, which is in itself helping to capture the attention of investors and business occupiers.

“This latest announcement demonstrates just how attractive a proposition our port is becoming and it is great to have attracted this Scandinavian business – we know that Nordic countries are among the leaders in the world when it comes to renewables and green technologies.”