Viridor Material Recovery Facility, Bargeddie
The Viridor MRF in Bargeddie accepts residual waste from five local authorities. The waste is processed and separated on site in order to recover or recycle as much material as possible. After processing, this waste then leaves the site either for further recovery or for final disposal.
Viridor operates under a waste management licence in accordance with The Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (as amended). Attached to this licence are a set of conditions relating to on-site activity.
SEPA, as the environmental regulator, has a duty to ensure that these conditions are being complied with.
Latest update
No breaches of licence conditions found
Date published: 14th August 2023
An inspection of Viridor on 25 January 2023 found no breaches of licence conditions. SEPA will continue to investigate issues of odour and flies associated with the site both in responding to complaints made by the public, and as part of our routine monitoring.
What we have done
SEPA have, and will continue to, undertake inspections of the site and surrounding areas.
In 2022, SEPA investigated potential sources of flies in the wider area of the Kirkwood estate and Crawhill Drive, including nearby water features, local bins, agricultural land, and other industrial activities, none were found to account for abnormal numbers of flies.
In early 2023, SEPA met with managers from Viridor to discuss their plans to ensure compliance for the seasons ahead. We reiterated their legal requirement to comply with licence conditions; to minimise the presence of insects and vermin on the site, and to prevent offensive odour outwith the site boundary.
Viridor are reviewing their odour management and intend to increase the monitoring frequency of the odour abatement material to identify issues earlier. In relation to fly management, Viridor have changed the storage location of some waste types and intend to carry out more targeted and reactive insecticide treatment.
SEPA continue to liaise with the operator and public through regularly scheduled stakeholder meetings.
Need to report an odour or abnormal fly activity?
When you report an odour to SEPA it is very helpful if you can be as descriptive as possible. Potential odours from Viridor Material Recover Facility range from:
- Like a general waste bin
- Sweet solvents, such as nail varnish, white spirit, ethanol/alcohol
Abnormal fly numbers are considered to be where >25 flies are identified internally within a 48 hour time period.