Teeside plant opens to reduce e-waste and cut reliance on metals

The move aims to reduce Britain’s reliance on overseas processing.

DEScycle opened its first demonstration facility at the Wilton Centre in Teesside on Thursday, 9 July, in what the company says is a significant step towards keeping critical minerals processing on home soil.

The plant will process electronic waste to recover metals such as gold, copper, silver and palladium, which are essential for manufacturing, clean energy, technology and national security.

The UK generates millions of tonnes of e-waste each year, most of which is currently sent abroad for recycling.

The facility was opened by Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, and Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, alongside investors and industry figures.

Anna Turley MP said: “Critical metals are essential to Britain’s manufacturing, energy, technology and national security, yet too much valuable metal-bearing waste is still exported for processing overseas.

“DEScycle’s plant in Redcar is an important step towards changing that.”

Ben Houchen said: “Teesside has always been at the forefront of industrial innovation, and it’s fantastic to see companies like DEScycle choosing our region to develop new technology that turns electronic waste into valuable critical minerals.”

Tech giant Cisco will supply materials to the facility, while Mitsubishi Corporation will explore commercial routes to market for the recovered metals.

Waste Minister Mary Creagh CBE MP said: “Recovering these critical metals and materials here in the UK is vital for our supply chain resilience, resource security and climate goals. I am delighted to see a British start-up like DEScycle showing how innovation strengthens the circular economy.”

CEO Leo Howden said the Teesside plant was designed as a blueprint that could be replicated at industrial sites across the UK and internationally.

The launch follows a government announcement last month of a £50m investment in domestic critical minerals production, setting an ambition for recycling to meet 20 per cent of annual UK critical mineral demand by 2035.