Port of Tyne’s new metal recycling contract

(Posted on 09/06/23)

The Port of Tyne has signed a new 10-year contract with European Metals Recycling (EMR), a global leader in sustainable materials. EMR has sites around the country, including one in South Shields, and has been a key customer of the Port for the past 25 years.

As a top client, EMR participates in the Port's Customer First programme, fostering collaboration and joint strategic objectives. This new agreement anchors the business in the North East, driving growth for its own business and the broader regional supply chain. The new contract will significantly increase the annual tonnage of ferrous and non-ferrous metals processed and shipped from the port to several global locations for reuse.

EMR’s facility at the Port of Tyne handles 300,000 tonnes of waste metal every year from manufacturers, demolition companies, the public, and tradespeople. The processed material is sold into the Mediterranean, North America, and the Far East to be reconstituted and reused in everyday items such as vehicles, electronics, and household appliances. The Port of Tyne’s deep-water operation enables EMR to move up to 50,000 tonnes on one vessel, with the in-house stevedoring team providing port services to EMR.

EMR has invested more than £1 million in its Port of Tyne facility in South Shields, where it employs some 30 transport, operational, and commercial staff. They plan to develop the site further to provide greater operational flexibility to manage global challenges.

Matt Beeton, CEO of the Port of Tyne, welcomed EMR’s continuing commitment to the region and commented: “It’s great to embark on a new chapter with a leading industry player in recyclable materials like EMR. The company’s market-leading position on sustainability issues, alongside its important role in the circular economy in support of the region’s growth industries like renewable energy, automotive and electric vehicles, is aligned with our business and ESG strategies as we look to grow our clean energy cluster.”

Scott Bamborough, Ports Manager UK at EMR, said: “For a quarter of a century, the Port of Tyne has played a vital role in our operations. Our South Shields operation will continue to have an important role on our journey to becoming a net zero business and play our part in the battle against climate change. Our continued operations at the Port of Tyne will help us to deliver sustainable materials to our customers globally, helping our customers reduce carbon emissions.”

Sustainability is the driving force behind EMR's business strategy. To help the world use its precious resources more sustainably, EMR has committed to becoming a fully net-zero business by 2040 and has aligned its climate commitments with science to play its part in the battle against climate change. EMR is investing in energy productivity, low-carbon, and nature-positive technology, and developing innovative new products that help their customers reduce their carbon emissions further.

EMR is a global leader in sustainable materials with physical operations in the UK, USA, Germany, and the Netherlands. Their purpose is to create a future where the materials we use do not need to be extracted from the planet.?

Port of Tyne is one of the UK’s major deep-sea ports – operating in bulk and conventional cargo, car terminals, cruise & ferry, port-centric logistics and estates. Overall, the Port of Tyne enables £557 million to be added to the North East economy, supporting 9,300 jobs directly and indirectly.