Viridor

Scotland's "WEEE Bit" Of Recycling Success

Scotland is undergoing a recycling revolution according to new figures released on the second anniversary of the UK implementing the Waste Electronic and Electrical Item (WEEE) directive.  The figures, released by Viridor, Scotland's leading recycling, energy recovery and waste management company, reveal a massive increase in volumes of televisions, irons, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, telephones and games consoles recycled in Scotland over the last twelve months.

The directive, which came fully into effect in the UK on 1^st July 2007, aims to prevent the production and disposal of WEEE, largely through the introduction of reuse and recycling targets.

With the nation's leading WEEE treatment facility at Perth, Viridor works with 96% of Scottish local authorities to securely recycle electronic and electrical items, ensuring items like fridges, TVs and computers we no longer have a use for are safely processed, ready to be turned into new products.

The Friarton Road facility which employs seventy staff and contributes £4.5m to the local economy each year recorded a 60% year-on-year increase in both televisions and small electrical items from the 31 Scottish authorities supported by Viridor.

Commenting on the figures Colin Paterson, Scottish Regional Director for Viridor, said:

"Scotland is undergoing a green revolution and Viridor is at its core enabling families, communities and councils to meet ambitious targets for recycling and waste management.  Right across the country people are playing their part in recycling and ensuring a sustainable future for our nation.

"In addition to paper, plastics, cans and bottles, recycling of electrical and electronic items is becoming increasingly popular.  Having recycled over 50,000 tonnes of electronic and electrical items in Scotland over the last two years, Viridor is making a real difference, recovering resources from over 625,000 fridges alone.

"The good news is that from the  Lanarkshire to the Lothian's  families are recycling more.  In addition to being good for our planet it's good for our pockets, limiting taxpayer exposure to landfill levies.  Whilst we've got some way to go you could say it's been a WEEE bit of a Scottish success."