Plastics recycling firm to create 16 new jobs

Gibbstown based plastic recycling company, Novelplast, has announced plans to create 16 new jobs in 2022, as it invests a further €2m in new production capacity.

The company said that the new investment would deliver substantial extra capacity to deliver innovative recycled solutions to the plastics industry in Ireland and its markets in UK and Europe. The extra jobs will come on stream during this year as the company builds up to its new production line becoming operational in September and will bring the total workforce up to 52. It is the only plant of its type in Europe, focused on finding recycling solutions for difficult to recycle PET plastics.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee visited Novelplast on Friday for the jobs announcement and also to officially open the plant.

She described what Novelplast was doing as “ground breaking and revolutionary” and said that while we all know what has to be done about reducing our carbon footprint, reducing emissions and recycling, what they were doing at Novelplast “is really on another level”.

Novelplast CEO Neil Skeffington explained that the company recycles post industrial PET plastic and finds markets for the end product which is a plastic pellet.

"We are quite focused on the circular economy, trying to reuse materials from people's processes. We supply quite a lot into the plastic fibres industry in Ireland. We supply quite a lot to the food packing industry here in Ireland. We have also branched out in the last year to supply the UK and Europe and also further afield in South Africa."

While Mr Skeffington said 2020 was very difficult, he said they have seen a trajectory upwards since the start of last year and are seeing huge demand. " We could probably sell twice what we make here if we had the materials and the capacity to do it which is why we have decided to invest in new capacity here. The total investment for the new line is approximately €2m and it should be up and running at end of September."

He explained that the new roles will be in a range of departments including production, engineering, logistics, commercial and administration, bringing the total number of employees to 52.

Kate Blake, general manager at Novelplast said: “Our business has come through a lot in the last two years and that’s down to the dedication, commitment and hard work of the team here. To be able to announce 16 new jobs for the area is a very proud moment and we are looking forward to seeing the team and our business grow”.

Damien English TD, Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, congratulated Neil and his team in Baile Ghib on their announcement by saying it was great to have Novelplast, “an ambitious and innovative company, operating and expanding from its base here in County Meath”.

“I recognise the critical role they play in driving employment opportunities, developing their talent and contributing to the economic activity of North Meath. "