A Swindon recycling firm that went bust owed Wiltshire Council almost £1 million, according to a public report on Companies House.

Recycling Technologies had hoped to develop a machine that could turn plastic waste into a synthetics oil, but went into administration in September 2022 due to a lack of funding.

In March 2024, dozens of employees made redundant were ruled to have won an employment tribunal against the firm. 

A document published after the company announced its collapse showed that it was £935,433 in debt to Wiltshire Council and Recycling Technologies was unable to repay this amount before it was dissolved.

Wiltshire Council’s leader Richard Clewer said: “Recycling Technologies were awarded a loan by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Ltd (SWLEP) and not by Wiltshire Council.

“The funding was awarded through the Growing Places Infrastructure Fund, a government fund set up to loan money to companies to support their growth, and not through local taxation.

“Sadly Recycling Technologies went into administration in 2022.

“The final report of the administrators was received in October 2023 confirming insufficient funds to repay creditors and the company was dissolved in January of this year.”

Wiltshire Council operates as the accountable body for the SWLEP and was responsible for ensuring the fund was spent in accordance with government guidance.