Priti Patel, Member of Parliament for Witham, visited Essex Reclamation, a family run company, at their Witham site to learn more about the company’s work in recycling, waste management, and to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing local environmental businesses.
During the visit, Priti met with Kay Short, Managing Director, and Chris Short, Director, to discuss the company’s operations, workforce, and its contribution to the local economy environmental sustainability, and employment of local people.
Essex Reclamation, is a family run business established in 1974, specialises in recycling paper, cardboard, plastics, and dry mixed recyclables. The company employs over 30 people locally and processes more than 5,000 tonnes of materials each month, which are sold and shipped to processors in the UK, Europe, and further abroad.
Speaking after the visit, Priti Patel said:
“Visiting Essex Reclamation, a local family run company, was a real pleasure. Seeing the important work, they are doing to help local businesses, and the wider community manage their waste. I was impressed by the scale and expertise of their operations, and I will continue to support local businesses like Essex Reclamation that provide vital jobs, innovate in recycling, and help our thriving business community.”
The visit also highlighted the challenges facing the recycling sector, including fluctuating materials markets, regulatory compliance costs, workforce training requirements, and the logistics of managing waste streams for multiple clients.
Priti Patel will continue to engage with local businesses to ensure that government policy actually supports local growth, and skills development in the Witham constituency.
