£1.7m centre to tackle the scourge

A NEW plastics sorting centre is to be created after it secured £1.7million of public cash.

Binn Farm, Glenfarg, Perthshire, was handed the money by environment quango Zero Waste Scotland.

The cash is being matched by similar funding from the private sector. The initiative being run at the centre, called the ‘Project Beacon’ system, will use innovative separation systems to support mechanical recycling.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: ‘Initiatives like Project Beacon have the potential to be ground-breaking as they are finding new uses and economic potential for hard-torecycle plastics which could make a significant contribution to reducing waste and increase recycling.

‘Project Beacon’s ethos and partnership approach supports our work to tackle Scotland’s throwaway culture, which includes our commitment to a deposit return scheme and the appointment of an expert panel to look at singleuse items.’

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: ‘I am delighted not only that our financial support is helping create a potentially world-leading recycling facility here in Scotland, but that Zero Waste Scotland’s expertise has been instrumental in bringing it about.

‘Project Beacon has the potential to transform plastics recycling in Scotland and beyond, and at a time when people are increasingly concerned about the impact of plastics dumped in our environment, I’m excited to watch this circular economy business grow.’