A £25 million glass recycling plant is set to open this year in Newhouse, Lanarkshire.
Viridor is investing the cash in what it describes as the most advanced glass recycling facility in the UK.
It will be capable of processing 200,000 tonne of glass per year, which is 150 per cent of all glass packaging currently collected in Scotland.
Set to be commissioned in the summer, with full operation taking place by autumn, the facility will provide material to the Scottish whisky and beverage sector.
It will contain 15 optical sorters, x-ray sorters, and over ½ kilometre of conveyor belts.
Viridor chief executive Ian McAulay said: “Building on our £100 million network of Scottish recycling-led infrastructure, this latest investment, bringing the UK’s most advanced glass recycling centre home to the central belt, places Scotland at the leading edge of global glass recycling.
“Part of a £500 million Scottish investment strategy to translate zero waste policy into practice, the centre will drive sustainability for the Scotch whisky and associated sectors at the heart of Scotland’s global position.
“A vital key in unlocking Scottish Government circular economy policy, this latest investment will not only help drive the level and quality of glass recycling across the country, but will be a real boost for a Lanarkshire economy fast becoming an important base for Scotland’s green sectors.”
Scotch Whisky Association director of operational and technical affairs Julie Hesketh-Laird added: “The Scotch whisky industry has ambitious green targets as part of its far-reaching environmental strategy.
“By 2020, distillers are committed to 40 per cent of their product packaging being made from recycled materials. Glass accounts for the vast majority of the packaging of Scotch and we welcome supply chain innovation which advances glass recycling.”
