A Perthshire recycling business looks set to close with the loss of 19 jobs.
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK has confirmed it is in consultations with employees over the future of the Binn Farm Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Glefarg.
The facility, which has been operational for several years, is currently operating well below its capacity, due to a lack of available dry mixed recyclable (DMR) material in the region.
A controversial decision by Perth and Kinross Council last year to start sending rubbish 160 miles by road to another facility run by the same company in the north of England is understood to have been a major factor in the downturn at Glenfarg.
The decision to transport dry mixed recyclables — paper, cardboard, plastic and cans — to Northumberland for processing was defended as the best economic option, but led to claims that it rendered recycling “pointless”.
“The contract with Suez at the materials recycling facility at Binn Farm Glenfarg, ended on October 31 2016,” said a council spokesperson at the time.
“In preparation of this, the council undertook a competitive tender process earlier this year where contractors were invited to bid for the processing contract for dry mixed recycling.
“The tender was advertised on the national Public Contract Scotland advertising website.
“The new contract was awarded to Suez at their West Sleekburn materials recycling facility.
“This decision was made based on this site being the most economically advantageous offer made by private sector bidders during the tender process, and includes all haulage costs.”
The council currently collects around 8,800 tonnes of dry mixed recyclables each year and the £13 million waste management facility in West Sleekburn can manage up to 120,000 tonnes of recyclables and waste each year.
SUEZ said that they were speaking to their Perthshire employees about the way ahead.
“SUEZ has entered into consultation with all 19 staff members at Binn Farm MRF regarding the proposals to close the facility, and a decision on the future of the facility will be made at the end of this consultation period,” said a spokesperson for the company.
“SUEZ always seeks to protect as many jobs as possible and, where possible, will look to redeploy employees to another facility in the event that the facility is closed.
“There is also a former landfill site, which is undergoing restoration, and a waste wood processing facility at Binn Farm. Both of these facilities remain unaffected by the proposals.”
