J&B News & Updates

23.09.25

Monday – A Visit to Catcote Academy

We kicked off the week with a presentation at Catcote Academy, where we are their Careers and Business Champion, in collaboration with Tees Valley Combined Authority. Our partnership with the school is something we value, and it was fantastic to engage with the students on the importance of recycling and its global impact.

The students were both surprised and fascinated to learn some of the weird and wonderful items that pass through our plant. Naturally, many were curious about what actually happens to their waste – and we were more than happy to explain. We also discussed practical ways the students could enhance sustainability around the school, and they came up with some brilliant suggestions!

It is always great to support local schools and communities, if your school may be interested visit - For Education

Tuesday – Networking and Learning at NEPIC Meet the Members

On day two, we attended the NEPIC “Meet the Members” event at Hardwick Hall’s Grand Marquee. This year’s event was part of NEPIC’s 20th Anniversary celebrations and brought together investors, manufacturers, and suppliers from across North East England’s process sector.

The day was packed with industry speaker sessions, mentoring opportunities, keynote talks, exhibition stands, and plenty of networking. Ingrid and Isobel had a fantastic time learning about industrial strategy and future growth opportunities. Highlights included talks from Lola McEvoy MP (Darlington), Dr Edmund Ward (Department of Energy, Security and Net Zero), Rob Hamilton (North East Combined Authority), and Darren Smith (Tees Valley Industrial Net Zero Leadership Group).

Wednesday – Exploring Recycling with University of Sunderland

We were happy to welcome a group from the University of Sunderland, for a tour of our MRF. 

The visit began with an introduction to J&B Recycling and our role in supporting local authorities across the North East. From there, our guests were taken on a guided tour of the MRF, experiencing the full recycling journey first-hand, from materials arriving on site, through to being processed by our sorting machinery and prepared for reuse. Many of our visitors were shocked at how much goes into separating the materials, with one visitor saying 'Everyone should see this process, it may encourage them to recycle properly a little more'

A highlight of the tour was seeing the advanced technology in action, including the robotic arm and automated systems that allow us to recover more materials than ever before. Visitors were fascinated by the scale of the operation and surprised by some of the unusual items that find their way through the plant.

Partnerships like this mean a lot to us. It’s great to spend time with the university, share what we do, and hopefully inspire the next generation to keep pushing recycling forward.

Thursday – Reflecting on Our Roots with Glass Recycling

We turned our focus to glass, a material that’s endlessly recyclable and an important part of J&B’s history.

Our story stretches back to the 1970s, when Alan Jackson founded the parent company from the beaches of Seaton Carew, supplying solid fuels to power stations and steelworks across the UK. From a small site on Baltic Street in Hartlepool, the business grew steadily.

In 1998, Alan’s daughter, Vikki Jackson-Smith, established J&B Recycling, diversifying into recycling and waste management. This safeguarded 20 jobs and set us on the path we’re still on today.

The very first material we began recycling was glass. Working with local pubs and clubs, we started collecting bottles and jars, and some of those customers are still with us to this day. At our Hartlepool MRF, glass continues to be recovered from Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR), sent to UK reprocessors, cleaned, and transformed into cullet - the raw ingredient for making new bottles and jars.

Like J&B itself, glass is a story of transformation. It saves energy and carbon, can be recycled endlessly, and is often back on shelves in as little as 30 days.

From those early beginnings to now employing over 200 people and processing over 200,000 tonnes of material each year, our commitment to rescuing valuable resources has always been at the heart of what we do.

A Visit from Hartlepool College

We closed out Recycle Week with a visit from our friends at Hartlepool College of Further Education.

After a tour of our MRF, we sat down with the team to talk about how we can support them in achieving their sustainability goals. Greame, Facilities Manager, and Lucy, Business Admin Apprentice, were especially curious about what happens to waste once it arrives at the facility – and where it goes next. Their questions led to some fantastic discussions about recycling and resource recovery.

Our partnership with Hartlepool College is one we truly value, and we’re committed to supporting them as they work towards their sustainability ambitions. We can’t wait to see where our collaboration takes us next.

Looking Back on Recycle Week!

What a week it’s been! From inspiring school pupils and university students, to learning alongside industry leaders and strengthening partnerships with local colleges, we’ve seen first-hand how powerful collaboration can be.

Recycle Week isn’t just about raising awareness of recycling – it’s about people coming together to share ideas, ask questions, and take action.

We’re proud to play our part, and we’re excited to keep building on these connections to make recycling second nature across our region. Here’s to working together for a greener, more sustainable future.