NEWS
OPINION
On site – levelling up secretary Greg Clark MP visited the Teesworks site with Tees mayor Ben Houchen .
Mayor hosts levelling up secretary on Teesworks tour
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen welcomed the levelling up secretary to Teesworks almost five years to the day after he played a vital role in establishing the site .
Greg Clark MP – secretary of state for levelling up , housing and communities – took a tour to see first-hand the transformation that has taken place at the former Redcar Steelworks site since it was first designated a Mayoral Development Corporation in August 2017 .
In his previous role as the business secretary , Mr Clark helped set up the South Tees Development Corporation and visited the 4,500 acre site with then-prime minister Theresa May to officially launch the body .
Since then , Teesworks – the UK ’ s largest and most connected industrial zone – has seen significant demolition and land remediation to prepare it for investors bringing innovative and cutting-edge low-
A Tees-based firm has won a 10-year deal to run the world ’ s first commercial scale plastic recycling plant .
Stockton-based px Group , owner of Saltend Chemicals Park and operator of several critical energy infrastructure sites in the UK and Europe , has been awarded a decade-long operations and maintenance contract by ReNew ELP .
Based at the Wilton International site , ReNew ELP – a subsidiary of Mura Technology – will use the HydroPRS technology platform to chemically recycle end-of-life plastic .
The HydroPRSTM process uses supercritical water to break down post-consumer plastics into a range of valuable liquid hydrocarbon products including naphtha , gas oils and heavy wax residue , all essential building blocks in the manufacturing of new plastics and other materials .
Unlike traditional mechanical recycling , carbon projects . These include SeAH Wind ’ s mammoth £ 400m offshore wind monopile facility . The BP-led Net Zero Teesside Power is bringing the world ’ s first gas-fired power station with carbon capture and storage capabilities , and Circular Fuels Ltd is set to establish a residual waste-to-renewable gas plant .
Mayor Houchen said : “ Since establishing the development corporation , we ’ ve secured all of the land previously owned by the three Thai banks following the closure of SSI .
“ We ’ ve cleaned up huge swathes of the site ready for projects that will put Teesside at the forefront of the UK ’ s clean energy plans .
“ We ’ ve also secured freeport status , £ 107m for our South Bank Quay from the UK Infrastructure Bank and spades are now in the ground on our first private sector-led investment .”
10-YEAR PLASTIC RECYCLING DEAL
ReNew ELP – Stockton firm px Group has won a 10-year contract to manage the world ’ s first commercial plastic recycling plant .
there is no limit to the number of times plastic can be recycled using this process . In addition , it is capable of processing all plastic waste types , including difficult to recycle material such as composite films .
At this site , px group and ReNew ELP will initially process over 20,000 tonnes of waste plastic each year , during the first phase of operations .
It ’ s time for us all to think green
How many of us really understand the impact we have on tomorrow , simply by how we choose to live today ? Considering our own role in ensuring the sustainability of our planet and then taking positive action not only leads to better futures for generations to come but , given the current economic crisis , can benefit our lives today .
At the Education Training Collective , through our Green Initiatives Group , we are educating and empowering our staff and students to be kinder to the environment .
As a group we have already achieved certified carbon neutrality , through measures such as the procurement of electricity from 100 per cent green sources , and now we are looking to ourselves as individuals , identifying ways each of us can make a difference .
Previously , I would easily crank up the thermostat as cooler autumn months approached and popping a hearty beef stew in the oven was something I didn ’ t think twice about .
However , after completing a certificate in carbon literacy through the Association of Colleges , this year I will ask myself , “ Is it really that cold ?”
I will opt to dig out the slow cooker instead of using the oven , and incorporate veggie recipes into our weekly menu – small changes that not only have a positive impact on the environment but also on our household finances .
What green steps are you taking to protect our future ? Let ’ s start sharing those ideas .
After all , while the government has set ambitious net zero targets , but it is only through education and collaboration that they can be achieved .
Erika Marshall , group marketing director and strategical lead for driving environmental change , Education Training Collective
The voice of business in the Tees region | 15