Scotland’s first ever large-scale food waste recycling facility operated by Scottish Water is celebrating its tenth anniversary this 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 the waste from landfill, where it would produce methane - operations at Deerdykes have saved 96,695m3 of carbon and generated 38 GWh of green electricity.
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 which is then converted into electricity as well as a natural fertiliser for use in agricultural land spreading.
The 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.
Colin Lindsay, Operations Manager at Scottish Water Horizons, said:
“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.
“We will continue to build on the plant’s success and work closely with our partners to maximise opportunities and efficiencies.”
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 - including Glasgow City Council, Inverclyde Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council areas, along with waste from many food producers and businesses.
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said:
“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.”
The plant forms part of Scottish Water’s wider plans to reach net zero emissions by 2040.
In a TV show that will explain the complex journey of the wastewater treatment process, Lakeside Equipment Corporation is set to feature in US Public Television’s All Access program with Andy Garcia.
Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released the full speaker programme for its 2025 event, which now features seven shows spanning all corners of the environmental sector, under one roof at the NEC Birmingham.
We are exhibiting at WWEM – Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo, which is one of the eight exhibitions taking place at the NEC, Birmingham 17-18 September 2025 as part of ESS Expo 2025. Please come along and visit us at Stand WW-S60.
Publication of the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report, alongside new legislation and updated national standards, marks a major turning point in the wider adoption of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) by water companies and developers, according to Alex Stephenson, director, SuDSPlanter.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video. 
What is to be done about the UK’s failing utilities? Listen to Professor Dieter Helm explore the options to tackle the UK’s failing utilities – Thames Water, the Royal Mail and Network Rail in particular.