The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee today (20 March) took the decision not to proceed with a new Waste Transfer Station, in Helensburgh.
This makes a saving of £3 million which will be used to address cost pressures within the waste service.
A review of the project indicated that it was not value for money and not the best solution to provide Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) ban compliant* waste disposal arrangements for Helensburgh and Lomond.
The original plan was to build a Waste Transfer Station that would enable the council to become compliant with the new waste regulations. However, after the project was started, the Council’s waste off-taker for the area withdrew from the market. The alternative arrangements made, with a firm in Linwood, are already compliant with the BMW ban.
After modelling the costs to finance the build and running costs of a new waste transfer station, it was clear that continuing with the arrangements with the third party waste management company provided better value for money at this point in time.
Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, said: “We need to adapt when circumstances and new opportunities present. Our duty is to manage public money prudently, and at the moment this money can be better used on other waste projects.
“However, should circumstances change in the future, we have plans and permissions in place for a waste transfer station that can be actioned swiftly so we are a in a good position to meet any future requirements.”
Note to Editor: From 31 December 2025, landfill operators in Scotland will not be allowed to accept BMW for disposal at the landfill. BMW is household waste, and waste from commercial, industrial or institutional sites that is similar to household waste.
