A new generation of resource management, recycling and green energy technology came under the Government spotlight this week as sector experts Binn Group welcomed Scotland’s Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, to Binn Ecopark at Glenfarg.
Hosted by company Chief Executive Allan MacGregor, the Minister’s tour focussed on the Ecopark’s low-carbon, next generation resource recovery complex, before discussing the range of innovative clean tech, low carbon systems currently operating and proposed at the 200-acre site.
The Minister also met John Ferguson, director with Pi Polymer, which is pioneering a system-focused, circular economy solution for the management of waste plastic.
The first of its kind in Scotland, this new facility will provide much needed infrastructure capable of recycling a complex group of large waste plastics. It will be the country’s first to separate large rigid mixed polymers into non-waste recycled granulate and pellet form for downstream manufacturing, coming into operation by June this year.
Binn Group, which employs 160 people, now processes over half a million tonnes of material each year with a recycling rate of over 90%.
Ms Slater was introduced to a range of state-of-the-art operations at Binn Ecopark, centred on the circular economy, renewable energy and low-carbon eco-innovation.
The facility also boasts an anaerobic digestion plant, green-waste composting systems and four wind turbines which form the core of a new private grid project. This will transform power use at the site, with proposals for a private grid connection to support Perth’s low carbon Smart Energy City objectives and benefit the wider community.
Other future proposals include a new skills training, education and research and development centre.
Allan MacGregor said Binn Group was delighted to welcome the Scottish Government Minister to the complex.
“As a business which is fully committed to reducing waste and growing the circular economy, we were happy to introduce Ms Slater to the strides being made here at Binn Ecopark.”
John Ferguson of Pi Polymer echoed the welcome.
“This facility has the ability and vision to demonstrate much of what needs to be done to decarbonise Scotland’s resource management sector and demonstrate the many opportunities for clean growth in these challenging times,” he said.
Ms Slater also met representatives of the Resource Management Association Scotland (RMAS), representing small and medium sized resource management companies throughout Scotland.