New Lanark, village on the River Clyde dating back to the 1786, a UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Scotland

Milestone Anniversary For North Lanarkshire Food Waste Plant

Picture of SCOTTISH WATER

SCOTTISH WATER

And it's a ten for Deerdykes! Scotland’s first ever large-scale food waste recycling facility celebrates its tenth anniversary this Scottish Climate Week.

In a decade, Scottish Water Horizons’ Deerdykes Bioresources Centre near Cumbernauld in North Lanarkshire has processed over 155,000 tonnes of food waste.

The facility has diverted this waste from landfill, where it would produce methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that is many times worse for the environment than carbon dioxide. By transforming it into renewable sources of energy, we're helping to fight climate change and protect the environment.

Operations at Deerdykes have saved 96,695m3 of carbon and generated 38 GWh of green electricity – that’s the equivalent of powering over 10,000 average UK homes.

The plant uses modern anaerobic digestion technology to convert food waste into renewable energy. Food waste is broken down during a biological process in sealed, oxygen-depleted tanks to produce an energy-rich biogas. This biogas is then converted into electricity as well as a natural fertiliser for use in agricultural land spreading.

This biogas fuels two combined heat and power (CHP) engines, with a total output of 1.5 megawatt (MW) of electricity. The electricity powers the on-site offices and the plant itself, with any excess being fed into the national grid.

“Celebrating the 10th anniversary of our recycling facility during Scottish Climate Week couldn’t be more appropriate. Our plant at Deerdykes has achieved a lot in a decade, contributing greatly to Scotland’s renewables and its target of becoming a net-zero society.

Diverting food waste from landfill and transforming it into valuable new products also helps boost our customers’ environmental credentials as they strive to become more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact. We will continue to build on the plant’s success and work closely with our partners to maximise opportunities and efficiencies.”

Colin Lindsay, Operations Manager at Scottish Water Horizons

Around one million tonnes of food is thrown away in Scotland each year. A number of local authorities across west central Scotland currently transport waste to Deerdykes. It comes from Glasgow City Council, Inverclyde Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council areas, along with waste from many food producers and businesses.

“We must cut down what we waste and send to landfill if we are to reduce our impact on the planet. Deerdykes has proven to be a valuable facility by protecting us from the worst impact of food waste and transforming its potential into the energy that powers our homes.”

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland

Earlier this Scottish Climate Week, we published a trailblazing Net Zero Emission Routemap which sets out how we will achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and beyond, and make a greater contribution to Scotland’s overall emissions ambition.

“Food waste reduction is critical in the fight against climate change and we have set an ambitious target, to reduce overall food waste by 33% in Scotland by 2025. In reducing our impact on the planet, this is an area where all citizens and organisations can make a difference. 

It is fitting that the 10th anniversary of the Deerdykes Food Waste Recycling Plant falls within Climate Week. By diverting 155,000 tonnes of waste from landfill and transforming it into renewable sources of energy, it has helped us reduce food waste and protect the environment. 

The plant will of course form part of Scottish Water’s wider plans to reach net zero emissions by 2040. The contribution of these low carbon technologies and nature based solutions are invaluable if we are going to build a green economy to enable Scotland to meet its national net zero target by 2045.”

Roseanna Cunningham -Secretary for the Environment

CASE STUDY

Douglas Park Community Consultation in Dundee

Scottish Water has been a partner in a project, led by the local community and supported by the National Lottery’s Community Fund, to regenerate the site once occupied by Douglas Primary School as a multi-functional greenspace.

Our team worked with the community to incorporate sustainable drainage features in the new park, which store and slowly release the rainwater that falls on surrounding roads and rooftops during storms. This eases pressure on the combined sewer network in the local area, as well as helping to protect the local environment and reduce flood risk from the Dighty Burn. Importantly, the community has been able to realise its wider aims by creating an attractive outdoor space that also provides a home for wildlife; and can be enjoyed for play, relaxation, exercise, events and the growing of food.

Planning is now underway to introduce more sustainable water management measures in the area surrounding the park, with the aim of disconnecting over 40,000m2 of land area from the combined sewer network; and helping to enable the development of more social housing in Douglas. Engagement with the community, including schools and other key stakeholders, is being carried out to help shape the proposals.

Work with the community and Dundee City Council on sustainable drainage for Douglas has helped to inspire the Water Resilient Dundee partnership. This initiative is now pursuing opportunities for more sustainable management of stormwater across the city, reducing flood risk in communities, creating capacity for development and enhancing amenity.