Lancashire-based plastic recycling business Preston Plastics has made its latest investment in staff development after putting two of its employees through industry qualifications.

The business, which operates one of the UK’s leading plastic reprocessing facilities at Out Rawcliffe, near Garstang, is supporting business development and QHSE manager Chris Johnston through an MSc in Sustainable Waste Management, while electrical maintenance engineer Dale Tyrer is being put through a HNC in Electrical Engineering.

Chris is completing his MSc at UCLan and the qualification will enhance his knowledge and understanding of the industry, including environmental management systems, policy regulation and leadership, and advanced waste treatment technologies.

Dale is completing his HNC at Wigan and Leigh College and the qualification will enable the business to carry out more electrical maintenance work in-house, improving efficiency and production.

Edgar Wallace, director of Preston Plastics, said: “We want to remain at the forefront of the plastic recycling industry, particularly with the niche services we have become known for. These two qualifications were identified as part of our people development programme and they will help Chris and Dale to develop their careers while helping drive the business forward.”

Preston Plastics’ state-of-the-art recycling plant operates 24-hours a day, collecting and processing a wide variety of waste plastics from across the UK from sectors including packaging, medical, building and construction, and automotive.

Using the latest technology, the waste is converted into quality reprocessed plastic compound which is sold back to the plastics industry to be used in the manufacture of a wide array of products, such as plastic storage boxes, paint trays, car bumpers and plant pots.

The business, which employs 25 full time staff, exports 60 per cent of its products into European markets.