COUNCIL chiefs are tackling the climate emergency by diverting thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill and turning it into ‘green’ energy.

A new partnership between Renfrewshire Council and East Renfrewshire Council, along with three other local authorities, aims to convert 190,000 tonnes of waste into energy every year.

This will produce an annual saving of almost 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is blamed as being the primary cause of global warming.

The partnership, which formally starts on December 1, also includes North Lanarkshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and North Ayrshire Council and involves a 25-year contract with recycling and waste management company Viridor.

The Gazette: Cllr Cathy McEwan Cllr Cathy McEwan

As part of the Clyde Valley Waste Management Project, Viridor has spent four years building a primary treatment facility at Bargeddie, in North Lanarkshire. to remove metals and heavy plastics from the waste stream.

Following extraction of these materials, the residue is treated and turned into a refuse-derived fuel. 

This is then taken to the Dunbar Energy Recovery Facility to be turned into energy. 

Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of Renfrewshire’s infrastructure, land and environment policy board, said: “Tackling climate change is a top priority for the council.

“Alongside our partner authorities, we’re delighted to be leading the way in meeting the landfill ban on residual waste a year earlier than required.

“This fantastic project covers more than 845,000 people.”

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said the project will see a “significant” reduction in the waste it sends to landfill each year.

“We look forward to continuing working with our partners across the Clyde Valley,” he added.

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