This month, Preston's own Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), managed by Valpak, the UK's leading provider of recycling solutions, celebrates its second year of providing state-of-the-art recycling facilities to businesses across the region.

In this short period of time, Valpak has handled over 100,000 tonnes of recyclable materials, and helped hundreds of local businesses manage their waste including Booths, Preston City Market, St George's Shopping Centre and Fox's Biscuits.

Preston businesses using the facility benefit from a sorting and collection service, which means they do not need to sort the materials themselves and yet can still recycle as much as possible. Valpak collects the bottles, cans, cardboard and paper and sorts it on site at the MRF.

Valpak Recycling also takes materials from the local authorities and Local Authority collectors in the area helping Councils in the surrounding area meet their recycling targets and householders recycle more.

Director of Marketing at Valpak Limited, Duncan Simpson said: "Valpak has invested in the Preston site to enable businesses to manage their waste in a way that meets increasingly complex regulatory requirements and to recycle their waste more effectively. Preston can be proud that this facility is now one of the country's leading plastic sorting and grading sites and draws material from across the UK."

Prior to Valpak's ownership of the Preston MRF in 2006, the site specialised in plastic film and plastic bottle recycling. It has since evolved to handle a wide range of other materials from industry and the domestic waste stream, including steel and aluminium cans, paper and cardboard.

During the past two years the facility has also been awarded OHSAS 18001 and ISO 9001 and 14001 accreditations, which recognise the highest standards of health and safety, quality and environmental management.

Duncan added: "We are committed to helping businesses in the local area and making it as easy and cost effective as possible to recycle. After two years we are thrilled to see our relationship with local businesses grow and encourage company's to get in touch to see how easy it can be to go green locally.

"Despite concerns that the value of materials collected for recycling have fallen due to the global downturn, the costs of disposal continue to rise year on year. Landfill tax currently sits at £32 per tonne while disposal is around £25 per tonne and more. Recycling still makes both financial and environmental sense to any business."

For more information about Valpak recycling solutions call 08450 682 572.