SCOTLAND’S DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME

SUSTAINABILITY: TOMRA / VIRIDOR

VIRIDOR AND TOMRA COLLABORATE ON SCOTTISH DRS PROJECT

THE TWO RECYCLING SPECIALISTS WILL BID JOINTLY TO OPERATE SORTING CENTRES FORRECYCLABLE DRINKS CONTAINERS.

Recycling specialists Viridor and TOMRA have formed a partnership to bid for the design, build and operation of the Scottish deposit return scheme (DRS) counting and sorting centres.

Viridor is one of the UK’s biggest recycling and resource management companies with significant Scottish investments, including a residual Materials Recycling Facility (rMRF) at Bargeddie in North Lanarkshire, which receives waste as part of a 190,000 tonne contract with five Scottish councils, diverting non-recyclable waste from landfill and generating energy.

TOMRA is a recycling infrastructure company operating across more than 80 global markets, specialising in the design, manufacturing and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) and other advanced collection and sorting systems that optimise resource recovery and minimise waste, with more than 100,000 installations worldwide.

The counting and sorting centres represent a critical part of the infrastructure required to underpin the efficient and accurate function of the DRS. Under the scheme, the retail price of a drinks container will include a deposit element and the deposit, being reimbursed in full, offers a financial incentive for consumers to return used containers for recycling, stimulating high community participation and high return rates. The policy is expected to drive collection rates on drinks containers to levels in excess of 90%, reducing littering and contributing to net zero climate goals, when introduced in 2022.

Viridor Director of Business Development (Polymers) Luke Burgess says: “Viridor has a long history of investing in Scottish recycling infrastructure, and the DRS offers the opportunity to supplement that investment and contribute to green job creation and the development of a truly circular economy. We are delighted to build on our relationship with TOMRA, the world leader in the provision of equipment for deposit return schemes, to work with Scotland to develop a smooth transition to a sustainable future.”

TOMRA Collection Solutions UK & Ireland Managing Director Truls Haug adds: “The TOMRA Viridor partnership is formed under the shared vision to facilitate a modern, cost-effective and best practice Scottish deposit return system, acting as a catalyst for sustainable recycling outcomes, delivering key sorting and counting centre services to the deposit operator.

“Our partnership forms a unique and complementary mix of global and UK-based experience, enabling a compelling ‘fit-for-purpose’ service offer.”