UK-based waste management company Biffa is expanding its plastic recycling capacity in Scotland by acquiring a post-consumer plastics recycling facility from Green Circle Polymers (GCP).
Located in Grangemouth, the facility is one of the UK’s largest PRFs post-consumer plastics recycling facilities, processing 50,000t of plastics a year.
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The Grangemouth facility recycles mixed plastic bottles and plastic tubs and trays, which are later used to develop recycled plastic material.
The £10m deal was first announced by Biffa on 1 June in its FY21 full-year results.
The addition of this facility will offer more recyclable plastic feedstock and is in line with the group’s strategy to quadruple its plastic recycling capacity by 2030.
As well as recycling plastic, the facility can sort coloured plastic material and metal cans.
Biffa chief executive Michael Topham said: “This acquisition builds on our leadership position in closed-loop recycling and strengthens Biffa’s capacity to process and recycle plastic waste in Scotland.
“As a leading enabler of the circular economy in the UK, this investment helps us support Scotland’s vision of a greener future, as it prepares to introduce the Deposit Return Scheme to reduce littering and improve recycling levels.
“We are delighted to welcome the Green Circle Polymers team and their customers to Biffa.”
Scotland is set to implement the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) next year. The scheme will allow residents to recycle used bottles and cans, including PET plastic, metal and glass, more easily.
Last month, Biffa agreed to acquire Viridor’s collections business and certain recycling assets in a deal valued at almost £126m.
Viridor’s 15 Industrial and Commercial (I&C) depots for business waste will expand Biffa’s low carbon collections business.
The deal is in line with Biffa’s sustainability initiative, Resourceful Responsible, which it launched last March.
