Now Glasgow is set to change gear with plans for a new, state-of-the-art recycling and sustainable waste management facility at its long established waste treatment plant at Polmadie, radically overhauling the way the city’s household waste is managed over the next 25 years.

A 12-week public consultation programme was launched on 22nd May 2012 to give Glasgow resident the chance to learn more and have their say on plans.

The proposed £154m Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre (GRREC) will handle 200,000 tonnes of council green bin residual waste every year. The Plant, working in combination with city wide blue, brown and purple bin recycling, will divert 90% of green bin residual waste away from landfill, saving millions of ounds, releasing recyclable resources from household waste and produing valuable heat and power from what will be one of the most advanced waste managment facilities in Europe. 

Detailed plans are being prepared by leading recycling, renewable energy and sustainable waste company Viridor for the new facility that will regenerate the existing Glasgow City Council waste facility at Polmadie on the South side of the city.

The facility will produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 22,000 households and heat the equivalent of some 8,000 homes, delivering a saving to Glasgow of 28,000 tonnnes of CO2 every year. 

At the same time it will deliver a saving to the city of circa £254m during the 25 year contract, create 250 new jobs, including 25 apprentices, and will support local social enterprises and small and medium sized businesses throughout the building programme and beyond.

Following a comprehensive programme of public consultation in 2012, a full planning application was submitted to Glasgow City Council which was subsequently approved in January 2013.

Viridor will start work on site in May 2013, with the Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre commencing operation in early 2016.