Offaly firm recycling food packaging plastic to make flower pots

Offaly's Green Junior Minister has hailed a local firm putting the circular economy into action in Clara which sees waste plastic being converted into pots.

“ It was a privilege to visit an Offaly business which is expanding into the circular economy and generating employment,” said Minister Pippa Hackett following a visit to Paltech’s new purpose-built site in Clara, last week.

The plant recycles plastic food packaging into a range of new items, including flower pots. The innovation is the result of Tesco’s partnership with Paltech, a sister company of Tesco’s food waste partner, Green Generation.

“ I met with Billy Costello, Director Green Generation, who told me that this waste would otherwise be incinerated or end up in landfill. The €2 million facility employs 15 people, and will recycle an estimated 70 tonnes of customer waste plastic to create 10,000 plant pots over the coming months.

“They are recycling soft plastic, previously difficult to recycle, and therefore extending its life cycle and diverting it from landfill or incineration. 7

"This fits with our Climate Action Plan as well as the Government's Circular Economy Strategy and has fantastic potential for further expansion and job creation.

"I look forward to seeing more opportunities such as this develop as part of the Just Transition programme,” she ended.