According to Press Association reports, Scottish Secretary for Infrastructure & Capital Investment Alex Neil MSP opened the £2m vacuum distillation unit in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, operated by Northburn Industrial Services (NiS).

The plant is designed to release no harmful emissions into the atmosphere, as the waste oil will be treated by vacuum distillation at reduced pressure. This will reduce the temperatures required to treat the oil, thus lowering the amount of energy needed to power the plant.

NiS company director Chris McLean said: “This is a major step forward for our company and a significant investment. It highlights our commitment to developing the latest waste oil recycling technology and will set us apart from our major competitors.

“Our aim is to establish a new, efficient and environmentally robust process that will open up new markets throughout the country. At present, waste oil generated in Scotland is exported abroad to as far afield as Germany for treatment and processing.

McLean claimed the new facility would bring “waste oil recycling in the UK into the 21st century” and said it was a far safer method of recycling waste oil compared to conventional processes.

Maxine Perella

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