Smurfit Kappa earns UK recycling contract

Smurfit Kappa Recycling UK has announced a new contract with Lancashire Renewables Ltd. to process approximately 15,000 metric tons per year of mixed paper collected curbside by Lancashire County Council and its contractors in that region of the United Kingdom.

The mixed paper will predominately be handled through Smurfit Kappa’s Blackburn recycling operation in the U.K., where it will be baled for shipment to one of Smurfit Kappa’s network of packaging paperboard mills.

“Our Blackburn depot sits in the middle of Lancashire, so it’s a great fit, not only from a carbon footprint point of view, but also from an employment perspective,” says Ian Ledson, general manager UK North for Smurfit Kappa Recycling. “The volume enables us to create additional employment opportunities, which is great news for Blackburn and Lancashire.”

Ledson adds, “I am extremely proud that we have been able to offer Lancashire a sustainable solution for their household [scrap] paper and look forward to developing the relationship further over the coming years.”

Paul Bindle, general manager of Lancashire Renewables, says, “We are committed to finding alternative, more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for Lancashire’s waste, and the new contract with Smurfit Kappa Recycling UK further supports this commitment. We look forward to continuing to build on our close working relationship over the initial contract duration and longer term.”