Once operational, the plant will process up to 100,000 tonnes of waste tyres annually – equivalent to over one million commercial tyres and nearly four million passenger tyres. It is designed to recycle or repurpose every component part of waste tyres.
The government said that the recycled materials from the facility will be used as a substitute for virgin rubber in tyre manufacturing, alongside in industrial products and construction.
It added that it hopes the plant will address the growing challenge of waste tyres across the country.
The facility will be operated Renfrewshire-based SSH Recycling and will be the first of its kind in the UK.
Construction on the site is set to begin in 2025 with operations expected to commence in 2027. 
“The approval of this facility represents a major milestone in Scotland’s transition to a circular economy,” said Robert Keay, director of operations at SSH Recycling.
“By transforming waste tyres into valuable materials, we’re addressing a significant environmental problem and supporting other industries to lower their carbon footprints. We’re proud that this plant sets new standards for sustainable resource management, while providing local jobs, investing in the local economy, and protecting Scotland’s environment.”
The facility will create up to 80 jobs, including skilled scientific roles and apprenticeships. The government said it hopes the site will bring over £120 million of investment to the West of Scotland.
Additionally, the site is set to be a carbon-negative facility that will prevent approximately 2.7 tonnes of CO2 emissions for every tonne of waste tyre processed.
An on-site energy system powered by microturbines will generate low-carbon energy, initially using green gas with plans to transition to green hydrogen.
Flood risk to site
SSH Recycling said that the Linwood site has been designed with flood-resilient infrastructure to address local environmental concerns.
Processing equipment will be elevated to reduce flood risk, and the buildings are designed to accommodate floodwater without displacing it to surrounding areas.
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