The project will see the transformation of a former parcel depot in the Eurocentral industrial park into a “state-of-the-art recycling centre”, as Biffa invests over £80 million in infrastructure to support the scheme.
Biffa was awarded it a 10-year contract to provide logistics, sorting and counting services for the Scottish DRS by in July 2022 (see letsrecycle.com story).
The £6 million Motherwell site investment will form part of a network of Biffa-run facilities across Scotland that will count, sort and bale the billions of plastic, glass and aluminium drinks containers collected through the scheme each year.
Gavin Money, Biffa’s DRS operations director, said: “The Motherwell site will play a key role as a regional collection and counting hub, handling some of the billions of plastic, glass and metal drinks containers collected each year from across Scotland.”
DRS
The DRS scheme will come into effect on 16 August 2023, and producers responsible for over 95% of containers placed on the market in Scotland have already registered to take part in the initiative. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has confirmed that registration will remain open to enable all producers to sign up before the scheme launches.
Following the launch, the Motherwell site will play a key role in the regional collection and counting hub, employing multi-skilled operatives, HGV drivers, weighbridge operators and managers. In total, Biffa is expected to create around 500 jobs in Scotland as a result of the DRS.
The DRS is a “crucial component” of Scotland’s efforts to reduce waste and tackle climate change, aiming to capture and prevent at least 90% of recyclable drinks containers from becoming waste. A refundable 20p deposit will apply to all single-use PET plastic, aluminium, steel or glass drinks containers ranging in size from 50ml to three litres. People will be able to return their bottles and cans to thousands of shops across Scotland, with larger stores, shopping centres and transport hubs operating automatic collection points known as reverse vending machines.
Circularity Scotland is also collaborating with Biffa to explore the opportunity to build a PET recycling plant in Scotland to support the DRS and create further employment opportunities.
‘Great news’
Scotland’s circular economy minister, Lorna Slater, praised the DRS as a “significant part of the country’s efforts” to reduce litter, cut emissions and build a greener, more circular economy. Slater added: “It is great news that a state-of-the-art recycling centre is coming to Eurocentral – this investment is a direct result of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme and shows the wider benefits it will bring to our environment and economy.”
David Harris, chief executive of Circularity Scotland, said: “The DRS will transform how Scotland recycles, preventing billions of bottles and cans each year from ending up as waste. This is a ground-breaking initiative that can act as a catalyst for the green economy in Scotland, creating jobs and supporting local economies while also helping protect our environment for generations to come.”
Delays
The DRS in Scotland has been heavily criticised by producers in recent weeks, and it seemed likely another delay was imminent as the candidates to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister said they would delay the scheme.
However, the scheme administrator Circularity Scotland said it is still “on course” (see letsrecycle.com story) and Biffa has now ramped up its £80 million infrastructure plans.
Subscribe for free