Paper making returns to Trafford (From Messenger Newspapers)

First paper is produced at SAICA’s new recycled paper mill in Partington, Trafford

9:00am Friday 27th January 2012 in Partington

A £300 MILLION recycled paper mill is up and running in Partington.

The plant has produced its first containerboard paper for sale to customers.

The state-of-the-art mill, on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, is Spanish firm SAICA’s first in the UK and the first ‘new’ containerboard paper mill to be built in the UK for decades.

The construction of the mill on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal has seen what was undeveloped land transformed into a world leading centre for containerboard manufacture.

The recycled paper mill will use UK recovered papers to produce 400,000 tonnes of recycled containerboard each year – enough paper to cover the 196 mile distance from Partington to London every three hours.

The new paper mill will help to divert the export of some 450,000 tonnes a year of used paper by recycling it within the UK - reducing carbon emissions by 84,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking 28,000 cars off the road each year.

Cllr Mike Cornes, executive member for economic growth and prosperity at Trafford Council, said: “Through the cooperation and commitment shown by Trafford Council and other stakeholders in supporting this investment we have been able to help SAICA to deliver every aspect of this successful project.”