World-leading metal recycling company EMR has opened a new site in Glasgow’s Clydeport docks following a multi-million pound investment.
The operation will target eight deep-sea ships with capacity to carry cargo up to 30,000 tonnes each in the first 12 months. Each ship will transport sustainable, recycled material to markets around the world. Sea freight is a low carbon transport option for moving material to steelworks in the UK and abroad where recycled metal can be processed competitively and responsibly.
The larger ships arriving at the new EMR site at King George V dock, will produce a fifth of the emissions, per tonne of steel carried, compared to the smaller ships typically carrying around 3,000 tonnes currently loaded on the River Clyde by EMR*.
At almost 8 acres, the site will also house an innovative End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) facility capable of depolluting and recycling high volumes of vehicles each week. Supported by a brand-new ELV collection network, the King George V development will enable EMR to become Scotland’s leading ELV recycler for members of the public and businesses alike.
There will also be a dedicated, segregated area for members of the public and tradespeople to drop off small quantities of any type of metal such as metal household goods, copper, brass, cable and aluminium. All with dedicated parking and instant payment.
A second phase will see the site expand to 11.5 acres. This will allow EMR to increase its capacity for both advanced ELV recycling and metal processing and separation. The extended site will focus on processing significant volumes of shredder feed such as ELVs and metals from business customers and local authorities across Scotland.
EMR King George V will bring 15 new, skilled jobs to the Glasgow area and enhance the company’s existing network of Scottish sites, which are located in Glasgow (South Street), Bellshill, Dundee and Kilmarnock.
The project is a partnership between EMR, landlord Peel Ports Ltd (Clydeport) and developer McLaughlin & Harvey.
As part of EMR’s ambitious goal to reach net-zero, the King George V site will feature enhanced electrical connections, allowing equipment used on the site to be fully electrified as the company transitions to net-zero by 2040. This will allow EMR to supply sustainable, recycled metal to its UK and international customer base in the most competitive and low carbon way possible.
Further investments in sustainability will include the re-introduction of native Scottish plants around the docks, alongside support for environmental education in local schools.
Ian Sheppard, Managing Director at EMR said:
“The opening of our new site at Glasgow’s King George V docks is the culmination of years of planning and hard work by the EMR team and our partners.
“Scotland has been leading the way in sustainability, so we’re very excited to be joining the nation’s drive by creating a new large-scale model of a low carbon, sustainable metal recycling operation that safeguards biodiversity. We’re also very passionate around education of younger generations on the environmental benefits of recycling and we look forward to explaining that locally at schools.
“We know that Glasgow residents care deeply about the continued success of the docks on the River Clyde and we’re very proud to continue in their revitalisation.”
Find out more about the site and where to find us here.
* A 1000Km voyage in a 3000te vessel will generate around 30Kg CO2 per te of steel carried, compared to around 6Kg CO2 per te of steel carried for a 1000Km voyage in a 30,000te vessel. Taken from ‘UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting’.
