Recycling

I had to accompany the First Minister to the new recycling plant at the Lochs Road today, where he officially opened it. Although it has been in operation for six/nine months it hasn't passed to the Comhairle until the staff are fully trained and the plant is fully working to everyone's satisfaction.

The site is currently producing twice the energy it requires to operate the facility, so there is a substantial amount of electricity available for sale or use by other businesses on site.

The centre-piece of the facility is the biodigestor, which is in essence a 1,000,000 litre stomach, with products taking 30 days to travel through the process and come out as compost. As soon as it is open we will be getting all the schools to tour the premises to see what is being done for their benefit, and to get them to hassle their parents to recycle more. I'd recommend that the adults go and see it too.

The department has spent almost 10 years getting us to this stage by ensuring that the collection service matched the end-uses; in checking the technology and negotiating with contractors; and, not least, in finding the money to do this. I came along mid-project and was swept away in the sheer enormity and importance of what has been undertaken.

It is fabulous, and we are leading the way in the UK.