The new site is part of a £7m expansion scheme and is projected to recycle an additional 300,000 tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation (CDE) waste annually.

The company, which has been operating for five years, has already diverted over a million tonnes of CDE waste from landfill at its Livingston facility, producing more than 750,000 tonnes of recycled aggregates. In doing so, it has saved 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

The new plant will serve construction sites, housing and utilities developments in the Western Central Belt, keeping the transport impact to a minimum by implementing a local approach to its services.

The expansion reflects a broader industry trend, as the construction sector seeks to embrace sustainable practices and circular business models in response to the considerable environmental footprint it currently bears. The industry produces half of Scotland’s waste, and is responsible for 40% of the country’s carbon emissions and 50% of its natural resource consumption.

Recycling CDE waste through Brewster Brothers’ wash plant recovers 100% of the soil, sand, gravel, and stone, transforming these materials into high-value products for reuse in the construction sector.

The Cumbernauld plant, housed at the regenerated Gartshore brickworks site, is now open for soil and rubble tipping. It is expected to be fully operational by Autumn 2023, creating 22 new staff positions with support from the Green Jobs Fund.

The Livingston plant, which currently employs 39, will continue to provide environmentally conscious waste management services and quality recycled aggregates to businesses in Edinburgh and the Lothians. As part of Brewster Brothers commitment to the Gartshore site, the old bing of colliery waste will be recycled, and the area will be turned into a country park for the local community, helping to promote biodiversity as well as provide new recreational spaces.

Scott Brewster, the managing director of Brewster Brothers, set up the sustainable resource management business in 2017 alongside his father, Alex Brewster, with recycling and reuse of aggregates its sole purpose.

He said: “Construction is an important driver of the Scottish economy and because of that, there is a growing imperative to reduce the waste generated and improve the environmental impact of new building developments and infrastructure projects.

“With the plant we have it is possible to turn CDE waste into quality aggregates for reuse, diverting tonnes of waste from landfill and providing a valuable flow of resources when supplies are increasingly under pressure.

“By investing in a second site at Gartshore, we will be able to service 44% of the Scottish construction market, while keeping our own carbon footprint to a minimum. We are a business dedicated to waste recycling and reuse and want to work in partnership with contractors to help them reach their sustainability goals.”

He added: “Scotland has big ambitions for transitioning to a circular economy and increasing the number of green jobs.

“Ours is both an innovative and a pragmatic approach to working with one of the country’s biggest generators of waste to improve environmental practice and raise awareness of the sustainable options available.”