Turmec to build one of UK’s most advanced recycling plants in Glasgow
The MRF will be capable of processing 50,000 tonnes of recyclable materials annually
Glasgow City Council's Contracts and Property Committee has approved a £15 million design and build contract to Turmec, an international provider of materials handling and recovery solutions to the waste processing sector, for an all-new materials recovery facility (MRF) at the Easter Queenslie depot, Glasgow.
This major infrastructure project will form a cornerstone of the city's renewed commitment to sustainability and modern waste processing, with the new plant expected to handle up to 50,000 tonnes of household recyclable materials per year.
The MRF will boost recycling rates
The MRF is designed around the Charter for Household Recycling which is already transforming how the council collects dry mixed recyclables (DMR). The new facility will work in tandem with the ongoing rollout of a collection service across Glasgow that provides separate bins for fibre (paper and card) and containers (cans, tins, and plastics) with the aim of improving the quality and quantity of recyclables collected.
These fibre and container materials will be processed in the new MRF which has flexibility to process co-mingled DMR if required.
The MRF will use advanced technology and will feature advanced automation, including robotic sorters and AI-driven optical sorting technology, to achieve high recyclate recovery and purity rates.
Glasgow invests in a green future
The re-development of the Easter Queenslie depot, which includes the MRF, represents a significant investment in the city's waste collection and processing infrastructure. The Scottish Government's Recycling Improvement Fund, administered by Zero Waste Scotland, is supporting the project with approximately £17m of grant funding.
With plans to be completed in early 2027, the new facility is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits, including a reduction of 5,802 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. It will also support a diverse range of job opportunities in Glasgow's green economy.
Turmec to advance recycling recover rates in Scotland
Turmec, recognized for delivering high-recovery, automated recycling systems worldwide, is proud to support Glasgow's bold step forward in sustainable waste management. This project not only supports immediate environmental goals but also positions the city to meet future recycling targets with confidence.
Councillor Laura Doherty, city convener for neighbourhood services and assets, said, "Recycling processors want high quality, clean, and easily sortable materials that allow them to create recycled products efficiently and effectively. The modern equipment to be installed at Easter Queenslie that properly separates the recyclable waste generated by our residents will be a game changer for recycling in Glasgow."
"The new facility will support the improvements we have been making to collection services that are already encouraging a rise in recycling rates in the city. I look forward to seeing the difference the new facility will make to recycling in Glasgow and how it will help us create a more sustainable, less wasteful city," she added.
Stuart Murray from Zero Waste Scotland said, "It's great to see progress on Glasgow's new materials recovery facility. The city is one of several councils that is benefitting from the Recycling Improvement Fund, which is making a real difference in recycling services and infrastructure across Scotland. These improvements will support Scotland's journey to net zero and help protect our environment for generations to come."
Trevor Smart, Turmec's associate director of MRF sales, says, "We are extremely happy to have been selected by Glasgow City Council to deliver a MRF on the forefront of sorting technology. Along with our technology partner BHS, Turmec will be designing and delivering one of the most robust and technologically advanced MRFs in the UK using AI-controlled Optical Sorters, Robots, and a control system with the ability to adapt to changing material streams which will help Glasgow City Council to produce high-quality recyclate."
