Scotland is to become the home of one of the world’s most advanced glass recycling facilities, after Scottish Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead yesterday officially opened a £25m new facility in North Lanarkshire.
Developed by waste and recycling services giant Viridor, the new plant in Newhouse employs smart technologies, including 15 “scientific eye” optical sorters and x-ray sorters, to deliver what the company describes as one of the best material recovery rates in the world.

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The firm said the new facility, which has been developed on a recovered “waste crime site”, can recover up to 97 per cent of input materials while delivering 99 per cent product purity.
Viridor said the 70,000 square foot site, which is just one of three similar facilities globally, will create 30 full-time jobs.
Ian McAuley, chief executive of Viridor, said the new plant provided a significant boost to the Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy, by ensuring waste material is reused by local businesses.
“Building on our existing network and over £357m of investment in Scotland’s green economy over the last 24 months, Newhouse brings the UK’s most advanced glass recycling centre home to the central belt and places Scotland at the leading edge of global glass recycling,” he said.
“A vital key in unlocking Scottish Government circular economy policy, this latest investment will not only help drive glass recycling and the sustainability of Scotch whisky, but will be a real boost for a Lanarkshire economy fast becoming an important base for Scotland’s green sectors.”
The Scottish Government is hoping to reduce its reliance on importing materials for its whisky and beverage sectors, with an aim to make 100 per cent of Scottish recycled glass suitable for the drinks sectors.
Lochhead said the new plant offers a “new and exciting perspective” on how to optimise resource use.
“I welcome this significant investment in modern recycling infrastructure,” he said. “Glass packaging is important to a number of Scottish food and drinks manufacturers and glass recycling makes sense for our economy and the environment. In a world of finite resources, where global populations and consumption growth are driving increased volatility and vulnerability in the supply of raw materials, the circular economy offers a new and exciting perspective.”
The facility has also partnered with Stirling-based insulation provider Superglass to provide material to support the government’s warm homes objectives.
Source: Recycling BG