NINETY jobs could be created if planning approval is granted for an £80m recycling plant.

Tyre recycling company PYReco hopes to have the plant built by next year if plans are approved by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

The plant, the first of its kind in Europe, would be based at South Tees Eco Park, in South Bank, Middlesbrough, which already has indicative planning approval for pyrolysis-type processing.

Pyrolysis is a method of degrading material through heat without waste or harmful emissions.

The plant would be able to recycle 60,000 tonnes of used tyres a year, the equivalent of 7.5 million tyres, and is expected to create up to 90 jobs.

The project has the support of Renew, a body which aims to bring low carbon and environmentally- friendly commercial enterprises to the North-East.

Renew found a suitable site for the plant and assisted its planning application by supporting market, technical and environmental impact assessments.

Anthony Carter, chairman of PYReco, said: “We were initially looking at sites in Wales and London, but with Renew we found an extraordinary ‘can-do attitude’ and a team who fundamentally understood the technology and the issues we face.

“Renew acted as a link between ourselves and the North-East community. Their support, guidance and understanding has enabled us to integrate into the region’s unique infrastructure, as well as gaining an immediate understanding of its culture.”

John Barton, director at Renew, said: “The North-East is uniquely placed to attract investment for environmental projects such as these.”

Traditionally, tyres have been difficult to recycle and are most often burnt in cement kilns. Pyrolysis will breaking down used tyres into their component parts capable of being used in the production of new ones.

The plant and the re-use of the recovered materials in the manufacture of new tyres and components has the ability to displace 500,000 barrels of oil, 250 MW of generated electricity and save the UK 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.