HRH the Duke of Gloucester was in Alton on Wednesday to officially open Onyx Environmental Group's new £15 million Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Located on the A31 at Froyle, the Alton MRF is the largest co-mingled dry recyclable sorting plant in Europe and the second of its kind in Hampshire, with an annual capacity of 85,000 tonnes. It handles plastics, aluminium and ferrous metal cans, newspapers, mixed paper and cardboard, transported to and from the factory by some 36 HGVs a day, and employs a staff of 45 people, including managers. In praising Hampshire for leading the way in the recycling stakes, the Duke said that he hoped other counties would be encouraged to follow suite. Also that the Alton facility would continue its work in reducing landfill waste by recycling materials for many years to come. Before unveiling the plaque to declare the MRF officially open, the Duke of Gloucester added: "I hope that those of you who come to work here will feel that this is indeed a very special place to be."
