A NEW £2m specially built plant in Southampton Docks is set to reprocess most of the 66 million disused glass bottles and jars in the county.

Glass previously collected in Hampshire had to be transported to as far away as Yorkshire because of a lack of resources in the south.

The new state-of-the-art facility uses colour-sorting equipment imported from North America.

Glass bottles and jars will be sorted and crushed to produce glass cullet, which is converted into new bottles and jars or even used for tarmac or concrete.

The project is a result of a joint collaboration between local authorities in Hampshire and operators Midland Glass Processing Company.

Southampton city councillor Richard Williams, chairman of the Project Integra Management Board, made up of local authorities, said: "Having it in Hampshire means that all glass bottles and jars can now be recycled in the most economical and environmentally efficient way, guaranteeing an end-use for all glass collected locally.

"An added bonus is that up to 15 new jobs have been created."

Neighbouring counties around Hampshire will also supply glass to the new facility.

Tim Gent, contracts director of the Midland Glass Processing Company, said: "We are delighted to be building this new state-of-the-art facility in Hampshire.

"The location on Southampton Docks also opens up the market place, with the potential to receive glass by sea and also to export any surplus."