ASDA opens Washington recycling centre - creating 60 new jobs » Environment » 24dash.com

ASDA is creating 60 new jobs with the opening of a state-of-the-art recycling centre in Washington today.

The £9 million centre, which will be only the fifth of its kind in the UK, will house the company's recycling and tray wash operations, helping it to reduce its environment impact and drive down distribution costs.

It will initially recycle 25,000 tonnes of cardboard each year from 29 Asda stores across the area but has the capacity to take cardboard from up to 50 stores.

The new centre's facilities will also incorporate washing facilities for 11 million food trays used in Asda stores enabling them to be washed and reused rather than thrown away.

The 75,000 sq ft centre on the Pattinson Industrial Estate has been developed in partnership with Bericote Properties which acted as developer on the project.

The location of the new centre will enable Asda to slash many thousands of miles off its total HGV journeys, while the building's green design will also help the company to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 90 tonnes of CO2 a year.

Sunderland City Council and English Partnerships also played a role in the development.

The new Asda recycling centre will be opened by Peter Willamson, Asda's Head of Distribution Infrastructure at 1.30 pm today.

The recycling centre is located next to Asda's existing warehouse on the Pattinson Industrial Estate, the address is 2 Mandarin Way, Pattison Industrial Estate, Washington, Tyne and Wear NE38 8QG