WORK is progressing in Motherwell on the £6 million transformation of a former parcel depot into a facility set to play a crucial part in Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS).
The project comes as part of Biffa’s £80 million investment to develop the infrastructure needed ahead of the planned August introduction of the scheme in Scotland, with the firm acting as Circularity Scotland’s official DRS logistics service partner.
Once DRS launches, the site 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 by the waste management company.
Biffa said that around 140 jobs will be created at the new facility at the Eurocentral industrial park, with the roles ranging from multi-skilled operatives and HGV drivers to weighbridge operators and managers. In total, the firm said it expects to create around 500 jobs in Scotland as a result of DRS.
David Harris, Circularity Scotland’s chief executive, was recently given a tour of the site to see how works are progressing. He said, “This is another important milestone in preparing for the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme in August. 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.”
Gavin Money, Biffa’s DRS operations director, added, “We are working closely with Circularity Scotland and progressing well with the exciting and ambitious plans for the launch of DRS in Scotland, which will see new recycling infrastructure developed across the country. 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.”
Circular economy minister Lorna Slater commented, “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.”
