The project aims to secure a long term solution for treatment and disposal of residual waste in light of landfill restrictions which come into force in Scotland in 2020 under The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012. It will see refuse derived fuel produced from the Clyde Valley waste burnt at Viridor’s energy recovery facility in Dunbar.
The project is jointly run by five councils, with North Lanarkshire as lead authority and four others as partners: East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. About 90% of the residual waste from the five authorities will be sent to Dunbar.
Viridor was one of four firms originally shortlisted to participate in detailed dialogue about the contract in 2013. The other three were: Amey Cespa, Balfour Beatty/Urbaser and FCC Waste Services.
The contract is expected to be worth around £700 million over the 25 year contract period.
Viridor has been selected to design, construct, finance and operate the facilities to treat waste which would otherwise go to landfill.
The solution proposed by Viridor will process approximately 190,000 tonnes of residual waste per year providing services to a population of more than 845,000 people, helping reach national targets for recycling and landfill diversion by 2025.
Councillor Jim Smith, Depute Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “The development is very good news for residents and businesses within the partner council areas as the project will see Viridor investing to deliver community benefits.
“This is an excellent example of shared service which will see an end to domestic waste being dumped in landfill and deliver savings and service improvements. Importantly, it will offer best value for money to taxpayers in the five council areas.”
Delighted
Ian McAulay, chief executive of Viridor, said: ““Viridor is delighted to be announced as preferred bidder on the flagship Clyde Valley Residual Waste Partnership project. The announcement is good news for partner councils, their local environments, economies and communities.”
“We look forward to working towards financial close and to helping deliver their sustainability, zero waste and community benefit objectives.”
A Viridor contract, said the company, would put no restrictions on how each partner council collects their waste which will be collected by each council and delivered to a transfer station within their boundary.
Viridor will transport this to their primary treatment facility at Bargeddie, North Lanarkshire. Primary treatment will remove recyclable material from the waste and prepare a refuse derived fuel. The refuse derived fuel will be transported to Viridor’s Energy Recovery Facility at Dunbar, East Lothian.
Should Viridor be confirmed as contractor for the project, it will add further to its activities north of the border.
Scottish presence
Viridor describes itself as “Scotland’s leading recycling, renewable energy and sustainable waste partner, working with 96% of Scottish local authorities and some of the biggest names in Scottish business such as Scottish Power, RBS, BAE Systems and Coca Cola Enterprises.”
In addition to its £100m Scottish network of recycling-led technologies, the company has announced £357m of Scottish investment in the last eighteen months including:
• £177.4m Energy Recovery Facility (ERF), Oxwellmains, East Lothian
• £154m Glasgow Recycling & Renewable Energy Centre (GRREC)
• £25m UK’s ‘most advanced’ Glass Recycling Facility, Lanarkshire
• £300,000 flat-screen TV recycling line at a £23m E-Waste Recycling Hub, Perth
• £180,000 Dry mixed recycling upgrade at £11m materials recycling facility, Bargeddie.
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