BBC
The incinerator in Aberdeen opened back in 2024
Aberdeen’s £150m incinerator has closed for the second time in six months, with an interim operator put in place.
No exact timescale has been given for when the facility – which is used by Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils for non-recyclable waste – will reopen.
Former operator Energy From Waste (EfW) Ness has said it intends to take legal action after its contract to run the site was terminated by Aberdeen City Council last week.
Waste and recycling company Suez has now been appointed interim operator, with waste which would have been processed at the plant now diverted to other sites.
The incinerator in East Tullos – which can process 150,000 tonnes of waste every year, reducing the amount sent to landfill – opened in April 2024.
However it temporarily closed in June this year after original operator Indaver said it was reviewing its involvement due to “ongoing issues”.
Non-recyclable waste from the three councils was instead sent to landfill in Peterhead.
The incinerator re-opened in August, after the council reached an agreement with EfW Ness to run it.
EfW Ness told BBC Scotland News the facility was a “world-class project” that was reducing landfill for the region.
“After the operator abandoned the site in June, EFW took control, in collaboration with the council, to run the facility at full capacity,” a spokesperson said.
“Despite this, the council terminated the contract on 8 December, a decision which EfW considers wrongful and intends to contest.”
Transition period
Aberdeen City Council confirmed the EfW contract had ended.
“An interim operator has taken control of the facility on an interim basis and staff will transfer across,” a statement said.
“During this transition period, the site will be closed temporarily and waste diverted to an alternative disposal facility. There is not expected to be any disruption to refuse collection services. Local authority partners are working towards appointing a long-term operator.
“Waste from all three local authorities is being sent to alternative delivery points, primarily to Stoneyhill landfill site.”
Landfill sites are used for biodegradable waste in Scotland
Suez recycling and recovery UK chief executive John Scanlon said: “We look forward to utilising this technical expertise to support the councils of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray with the management and operation of Ness EfW on an interim contract.
“We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Aberdeen City Council through the management of their waste and recycling, delivering increased recycling rates and introducing reuse to the benefit of Aberdeen residents, and we look forward to continuing this collaborative partnership.”
A ban on sending black-bag waste to landfill in Scotland was effectively delayed by two years after a BBC investigation found up to 100 truckloads of rubbish would have to be transported to England each day.
Not enough waste incinerators have been built in time to cope with the additional waste being diverted from landfill creating a capacity gap.
Ministers wrote to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) highlighting the challenges the waste industry has been facing in preparing for the ban.
Sepa then issued a notice saying the ban will take full effect from January 2028.