Worth £700 million, the 25-year Clyde Valley Residual Waste contract was signed in 2016 with North Lanarkshire council as the lead authority on behalf of East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire councils (see letsrecycle.com story).
Under the terms of the contract, which began on 1 December 2019, waste is transported to the rMRF and processed into refuse derived fuel (RDF).
Andrew McPherson, head of regulatory services and waste solutions at North Lanarkshire council, said: “This announcement represents a landmark moment for the Clyde Valley Partnership. This sophisticated hub will help to dramatically reduce household waste going to landfill.
“Anything that is able to be recycled will be, with material which cannot converted into low carbon energy.”
Hub
More than £33m has been invested in the Bargeddie Recycling Hub since 2009, with the £11m clean Materials Recycling Facility followed by the £22m rMRF.
Steven Don, head of local authority contracts, Scotland, said: “The Bargeddie Hub is now receiving waste as part of this contract just in time for the very busy post-festive season period.
“The Clyde Valley Partnership is an excellent example of how local authorities can work together to deliver effective waste management and contribute to a circular economy in Scotland.
“The sophisticated technology at Bargeddie improves recycling and non-recyclable waste treatment, maximising the opportunities to recycle while putting non-recyclable waste to work to generate low carbon electricity.”
Energy
Residual black bag waste will be processed at the Bargeddie Hub, with recyclate extracted for further processing.
The remaining non-recyclable material will then be transferred to Viridor’s energy from waste (EfW) facility in Dunbar, where it will be used to generate electricity.
Work at the Dunbar plant began in summer 2015, with the facility initially expected to be up and running by late 2017 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Speaking for the Clyde Valley Partnership, Robert Steenson, executive director of enterprise and communities at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “This is a significant project for the five local authorities, both as the first partnership of its kind in Scotland and in its contribution to managing household waste more effectively.
“It means that the waste, which cannot otherwise be recycled, will now be diverted from landfill and transformed into low carbon electricity, with the Dunbar Energy Recovery Facility generating enough power for the equivalent of 70,656 homes.
“At the same time, it also reduces the overall carbon impact associated with the disposal of the waste.
“Viridor has invested in its plants at Bargeddie and Dunbar to ensure it has the latest technology to manage this contract and help the partner councils to comply with the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Plan and Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012.”
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