One of the UK’s largest recycling and renewable energy companies, Viridor, has reached a major health and safety milestone in the delivery of its new £177m Energy Recover Facility (ERF), currently under construction at Dunbar in East Lothian.

Viridor and its construction partners Interserve Construction Ltd and technology specialist Babcock and Wilcox Vølund (BWV), achieved 250,000 safe working hours on site without a reportable incident over the summer. 

To mark this safe working milestone, Viridor has donated £1,000 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to support the charity’s Dunbar station.

Health and safety is a top priority at the site and in recognition of reaching this significant milestone, construction workers were given the opportunity to choose a local charity to receive the £1,000 donation. 

With Dunbar being the home to both Viridor’s rail-linked landfill disposal and the new £177m energy recovery facility (ERF), which is currently in construction, workers decided the money should go to the town’s lifeboat station.

Commenting on the donation, Gary Fairbairn, Coxswain at Dunbar RNLI, said: 

“It’s great to see companies like Viridor take workplace safety so seriously and we are thrilled they have chosen to recognise this by rewarding our charity.

“The support we receive from Viridor throughout the year is fantastic and this is an extra boost for us. The money will go towards keeping residents and visitors to Dunbar safe when they are at sea.”

Scott Reynolds, Dunbar ERF Construction Project Manager, said: 

“In addition to investing in Scottish advanced recycling infrastructure, we’re making strong progress on constructing the energy recover facility at Dunbar which is scheduled for completion at the end of next year.  With a firm focus on safe working across the project, it’s great to mark this milestone and in doing so to share this success with the local community.”

The Dunbar ERF is part of Viridor’s £500m Scottish investment programme in ‘next generation’ renewable energy infrastructure.