A FIRM that uses recycled glass as a cleaning product is creating jobs in response to a sharp rise in sales.

WRL Glass Media Ltd, part of Ward Recycling, has seen an 81 per cent sales increase for the first four months of 2015, as it delivered more than 7,000 tonnes of processed glass, which is used for a range of applications including shot blasting and water filtration.

In response to increasing demand for its products, the company is creating four new plant operations jobs and implementing a four-day-on, four-day-off rota to enable 24-hour operations.

Further jobs are expected to be created later this year to provide additional administrative support for the business.

The ability to meet the growth in sales has been made possible by the firm's investment in its facilities at South Bank, Middlesbrough.

Its Glass Beneficiation Plant, beside Ward Recycling’s main household recycling facility, is part of a £3.2m investment.

The company has already built an additional 5,000 sq ft £450,000 glass clean up extension, which was opened earlier this year.

Gareth Godwin, manager at WRL Glass Media, said: “Our innovative glass processing products are really gaining traction across our target markets as customers see the quality and environmental benefits of utilising glass media for their operations.

“We have invested in our facilities, accreditations and people to improve and maintain quality alongside creating the ability to scale up our operations, which is enabling us to meet rising demand.

“We are particularly proud of our growth in export markets where our highly refined glass product is becoming increasingly popular as a safe and environmentally friendly media for the filtration of swimming pool water.”