Viridor to unveil £25m glass recycling plant in Scotland

The company said the “next-generation” facility would be the most advanced in Europe.

It will have the capacity to recycle 200,000 tonnes of glass every year, which is 150% of all glass packaging currently collected in Scotland.

It is hoped the new plant will reduce the need for industries such as Scotch whisky to import glass. Equipment for the facility will arrive this month, with production due to commence in the summer and full operation by autumn.

Viridor chief executive Ian McAulay said: “Building on our £100m network of Scottish recycling-led infrastructure, this latest investment, bringing the UK’s most advanced glass recycling centre home to the central belt, places Scotland at the leading edge of global glass recycling.

“Part of a £500m Scottish investment strategy to translate zero waste policy into practice, the centre will drive sustainability for the Scotch whisky and associated sectors at the heart of Scotland’s global position.”

Scotch Whisky Association director of operational and technical affairs Julie Hesketh-Laird added: “By 2020 distillers are committed to 40% of their product packaging being made from recycled materials.

“Glass accounts for the vast majority of the packaging of Scotch and we welcome supply chain innovation which advances glass recycling.”

Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael said the announcement was good news for Scotland’s economy. He added: “Locating the UK’s most advanced glass recycling centre in Newhouse reflects the great skills of the workforce in Lanarkshire.

“Centres such as this will help Scotland fulfil its enormous green energy potential ensuring that we are at the centre of the UK’s low carbon economy. It also shows the great benefits and sustainable future that recycling provides for our world class industries like Scotch Whisky.”

Zero Waste Scotland director Iain Gulland added: “I welcome this major strategic investment in the Newhouse plant by Viridor, which will bring best-in-class recycling technology to Scotland, helping create jobs directly and further down the supply chain. 

“Zero Waste Scotland has worked to stimulate action to develop the circular economy for glass, including through support for new recycling collections infrastructure. This new investment will help capitalise on the unique opportunity we have here in Scotland for a vibrant, world-leading glass reprocessing industry worth millions to our economy.”

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