The plant will take waste from the construction, industrial and commercial industries as well as some households in Yorkshire.

LSS Waste Management Managing director Nigel Woolford said that the aim is to recycle 80% of the waste that comes through the 500,000 tonnes per annum plant.

Mr Woolford, who set up the company in 1984 with 10 skips and a vehicle, designed the recycling equipment himself. After travelling around Europe he settled on technology from the Netherlands, which he modified to suit his needs.

The plant will begin taking in waste from contractors today, following several weeks of testing. Mr Woolford explained that it has taken around nine weeks for the facility to be set up.

LSS Waste Management's facility will serve the companies 4,000 plus skips currently situated across South, West and North Yorkshire.

Recyclables

Once separated through the plant wood, plastic, cardboard, metal and aggregates are delivered to recycling facilities. Mr Woodford said: "Other than the plastic all the recyclable material is taken to companies based on the same industrial site. The cement company next door will be taking a lot of the aggregates off of us."

The company moved to its new facility from a 200,000 tonnes per annum plant in Rothwell, Leeds.

Next up for the company will be the introduction of two holding stations in the North and South of the county.

Mr Woolford said: "We want to be running 24 hours a day so the inclusion of transfer stations elsewhere will allow us to bulk up and run the plant through the night."