Plant Wins Zero Waste Scotland Award for Best Private Sector Initiative : Viridor’s £25m High Tech Scottish Glass Recycling Plant Secures Award

Waste and recycling firm Viridor’s £25 glass recycling facility in Newhouse, Scotland has won a Scottish Government backed circular economy award for Best Private Sector Initiative.

Opened by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment, Richard Lochhead MSP in September, the Newhouse recycling centre received the Zero Waste Scotland award at the recent Scottish Resources Awards held recently in Glasgow.

The company said that the facility has also been shortlisted for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency backed VIBES Awards and the UK Business Green Awards.

According to Viridor the plant is the UK’s most advanced glass recycling facility, and one of only three of its kind to be found globally. The hub is said to be helping drive Scotland’s circular economy, reducing reliance on imported materials for whisky and beverage bottles, and ensuring 100% of Scottish packaging glass is fit for use by the burgeoning Scotch whisky and drinks sectors.

Viridor, part of the Pennon Group (LSE: PNN), explained that the plant features advanced recycling technology andencompasses some 15 ‘scientific eye’ optical sorters, x-ray sorters, over ½ km of conveyer belts and 2.5 km of electrical cabling across three floors of processing towers.

Recycling glass from 17 Scottish local authorities, the facility is claimed to recover up to 97% of input materials, while importantly achieving up to 99% product purity and thus exceeding the quality requirements for a Scotch sector focused on high-end product packaging.

Commenting on the award, Viridor Scottish regional managing Director, Colin Paterson, said:“The Scottish Resources award is real recognition of how significant this £25m investment is in Lanarkshire and Scotland’s green economy. More than that, it’s recognition of the role it will play in boosting the sustainability of Scotland’s largest export – Scotch whisky."

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