Willshee's Waste & Recycling has opened a new £10million plant in Swadlincote.

Insider Media reports that Willshee's employs more than 100 staff across its Burton and Swadlincote sites.

The new facility is powered by solar panels, with the excess power being sold back to the national grid.

Managing director Dean Willshee said: "Opening this new site is a huge step forward for our company in terms of technology, efficiency, and also the environment.

"This state-of-the-art equipment produces over a third more material that can be reused, versus other plant, extracting wood, soil, plastic, metal and rubble from general waste.

"With a process involving three stages of shredding and a sophisticated system of shredding, screening, air separation, magnets, and near-infrared technology, we are able to extract every last piece of recyclable material.

"What is left is made into solid recovered fuel (SRF), which is then used by manufacturers. Cement works will use SRF in their kilns, for example."

Willshee's is the largest independent waste and recycling company in the East Midlands region for domestic, industrial and commercial waste management.

The family-run company has been providing waste and recycling solutions for 37 years.

Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire, added: "I was delighted to support Willshee's with their bid to open up this state-of-the-art commercial collection and recycling centre.

"Everyone is so alive to the need to recycle nowadays and this is as important for businesses as it is for our homes. Now that it has opened, I wish them every success with this venture."