Councils to recycle landfill waste under £700m Viridor deal
Five Scottish councils have signed a £700m deal that will see landfill-bound waste diverted for recycling with the remainder used for renewable energy.
About 190,000 tonnes of material will be processed annually at Viridor's plant in Bargeddie, North Lanarkshire.
The waste management firm will then send what is left over to its energy recovery plant at Dunbar, East Lothian.
The 25-year deal covers Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire and East Dunbartonshire.
The contract with Viridor, which begins on 1 December 2019, was signed by lead authority North Lanarkshire after a competitive tendering process.
North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim Logue said: "This is an important contract in terms of the scale of waste processing and environmental benefits.
"By working in partnership, we are delivering improved services for residents, best value for taxpayers, creating new jobs and recycling more waste which would otherwise go to landfill."
The project came about following a review in 2009, by former NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chairman Sir John Arbuthnott, of the potential for sharing council services across the Clyde Valley.
Councillor Logue said the contract was "the first partnership between Scottish local authorities arising from Sir John Arbuthnott's review".
Viridor commercial director Paul Ringham said the deal would divert more than 90% of waste away from landfill sites among partner authority areas.
"Viridor's partnership will transform waste across the Clyde Valley," he said.
"In addition to best value and driving a low-carbon future focussed on landfill diversion, the partnership will deliver real economic and community benefits.
"From next-generation infrastructure to jobs, supply-chain opportunities and an innovative education partnership, our team is ready for the work ahead."