Deposit return scheme will create up to 20 jobs in Thurso
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A Thurso Highland councillor is putting his weight behind the town's involvement in the operation of the controversial deposit return scheme.
Councillor Ron Gunn welcomed the 15-20 full-time jobs being created at a new bulking station in a redundant building in Ormlie Industrial Estate.
Planning consent for the redevelopment of the site has just been given and work has started to get it ready to go live in time for the proposed launch of the Scottish-wide scheme in August.
Morven House, which is opposite Thurso Cinema, is being redeveloped to handle more than 25,000 tonnes of plastic, metal and glass per year.
It is part of a network of eight bulking stations where cans, bottles and other single-use containers will be taken before being transferred to one of three national recycling centres.
Councillor Gunn said the venture will give the town a welcome jobs boost.
"It's going to create up to 20 jobs in an industry that is going to be here for the long term," he said.
"It's encouraging recycling as well as tackling litter and it's also bringing an empty building back to life.
"It sounds like a win for everybody."
Councillor Gunn did not believe there would be a noise nuisance, given that the site is in an industrial estate, but he did foresee a significant rise in road journeys.
Biffa Waste Services, which has the contract to operate the scheme, envisages four vehicles making eight return journeys a day to collect the material and a further six trips a week to one of the three national sorting centres.
Highland Council officials last week approved plans to install a new 2.4 metre high perimeter fence, a weighbridge and a covered glass storage bay together with a leachate storage tank, parking bays and amendments to the internal layout.
A Biffa spokesperson said: "Work has now started to replace the roof, and the site will be operational by July."
On staffing, he replied: "We can't confirm exact numbers at this stage, but between 15-20 jobs are being created at Thurso."
Posts will include shop floor operators, drivers, office staff and logistics personnel.
The national scheme involves a 20p deposit being paid for single-use drinks containers, which is redeemed when they are returned empty.
It has run into major flak from sections of the drinks industry and politicians who have called for the launch to be delayed until their concerns are resolved.
