Shabra opens state-of-the-art €3.5m plastic bottle sorting plant in Monaghan
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, today [Thursday] announced 35 new jobs in a plastic bottle recycling firm.
Minister O’Keeffe announced the jobs as he officially opened a new €3.5 million plastic bottle sorting plant in the Shabra Group in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
The state-of-the-art extension, supported by the Enterprise Ireland Growth Fund, is the only one of its kind here and among the best in Europe.
Irish-owned Shabra, which employs 49 workers, collects, reprocesses and recycles waste plastic bottles and film.
The new workers will be recruited over the next three years in areas such as general operations, research and development, manufacturing supervisionand administration.
The Shabra Group is Ireland’s only fully integrated reprocessing, recycling, manufacturing and supply company for plastic bottles and film. The new plastic bottle sorting plant reprocesses low-value post-consumer plastic bottles and film into value-added recyclate which would otherwise go to landfill or be exported. It can sort over 40,000 tonnes of mixed plastic bottles each year.
Opening the extension, Minister O’Keeffe said the new plant would boost Shabra’s recyclate export sales worldwide.
‘Shabra is a leading Irish recycling company which generates a significant economic dividend for the border region in direct and spin-off jobs and investments.
‘The firm’s rapid growth is based on driving new levels of research and development and responding to emerging sectoral demands and international market opportunities.
‘The new €3.5 million investment will create 35 high-quality jobs and copper-fasten the firm’s future in Castleblayney as a major local employer,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.
The chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, Frank Ryan, said: ‘Shabra is a key client of Enterprise Ireland both in terms of its importance to the border region and as a leader in the clean-tech sector - one of Ireland’s critical high-growth sectors.
‘Enterprise Ireland looks forward to continuing this close working relationship and supporting Shabra as it continues as a leader in its sector and grows its international business.’
Shabra’s joint managing directors, Rita Shah and Oliver Brady, said: ‘This is an exciting time for everyone involved in Shabra and a major step towards building a sustainable green economy in Ireland.
‘We are delighted that Shabra’s operations can offer positive economic benefits both in terms of employment and exporting while also having a positive environmental impact in terms of recycling and reducing Ireland’s carbon footprint,’ said Ms Shah.
Mr Brady said: ‘In positioning ourselves as a leading Irish recycling company, Shabra is keen to demonstrate that, through a strong commitment to innovation and caring for the environment, we can change the way we think about waste plastics and not only make a difference to the environment but bring real economic benefits, too.’
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About the Shabra Group
Established in 1986 by Rita Shah and Oliver Brady, Shabra is Ireland's only fully integrated reprocessing, recycling, manufacturing and supply company. It is based in a purpose-built factory in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. The group has three separate companies: Shabra Recycling Ltd, Shabra Plastics and Packaging Ltd and Shabra Polymex Ltd. Three key products manufactured on site are plastic bags, sacks for industrial use, refuse sacks, bespoke bags; plastic recyclate; and wood chip and shredded paper used by the equestrian industry and farmers. Shabra also supplies thousands of products covering catering and disposables, overprinted paper and plastic bags, packaging and wrapping products. The company is accredited with ISO standards for Quality (ISO 9001), Health and
Safety (ISO 18001), Environment (ISO 14001), FÁS Excellence Through People and it is working towards Energy Management (ISO 16001).
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Ciara O’Mahony
Press Officer
Enterprise Ireland
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 | Ciara O'Mahony |
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