UK recycler in 81% sales boost

UK recycler WRL Glass Media has had an 81% rise in sales for the first four months of 2015 for its specialist glass products.

The Teesside, UK-based company delivered more than 7,000 tonnes of processed glass between January and April, which is used for applications including shot blasting and water filtration.

As a result of the growth and increased demand for its products, the company is creating four new plant operations roles and implementing a four-day-on, four-day-off rota to enable 24-hour operations.

Further jobs are expected to be created later this year to provide additional administrative support for the business.

The growth is part of WRL Glass Media Ltd’s strategy to establish itself as the premier supplier of recycled glass media in the UK and Europe.  It has increased its market share for its Shot Blasting Products with customers swapping from grit or plastic products to environmentally-friendly recycled glass for the first time.

The company’s more refined processed glass, which is used as a cost-effective and cleaner replacement to silica sand in swimming pool filtration systems, is enjoying strong export growth with more than 30% of its products sold to customers in countries including Spain, Greece, Cyprus, France and Iceland.

The ability to meet this substantial growth in sales has been made possible by WRL Glass Media’s investment in its facilities in South Bank, Middlesbrough, UK.

Its 32,000ft sq Glass Beneficiation Plant, located next to its main household recycling facility, is part of a £3.2million investment that was supported by a £500,000 grant.

To meet demand, the company has already built an additional 5,000ft sq £450,000 glass clean up extension.

Gareth Godwin, Manager at WRL Glass Media, said: “Our innovative glass processing products are really gaining traction across our target markets as customers see the quality and environmental benefits of utilising glass media for their operations.”