West Lothian-headquartered Levenseat said it will introduce new technologies and automated processes at the Falkirk site where it plans to create up to 50 skilled jobs.

The new MRF is designed to process up to 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, almost doubling Levenseat’s current sorting line capacity. Under its management, the facility will continue to accept waste from existing customers and will also enable the company to expand its public and private sector business across central Scotland.

Improvements to the upgraded MRF will allow it to process and recover a much wider range of materials, including bulky waste, which has traditionally been difficult to recycle and has often ended up in landfill. The Falkirk site will also process mixed household, commercial, industrial, construction and demolition waste. Through its industry experience and investment in the facility, Levenseat says it will introduce new, innovative processes to ensure more of this waste stream is recovered for recycling with remaining un-recyclable materials converted into fuel.

Turmec UK, a company with over 50 years of experience in the engineering and recycling industries, has been appointed to carry out refurbishment and installation of new equipment at the MRF.

The landfills and other associated operations remaining on the Falkirk site will continue to be owned and operated by Avondale Environmental Ltd, part of NPL Group.

Levenseat managing director Angus Hamilton said: “Today’s acquisition of the Materials Recycling Facility, which includes the land and associated equipment at the Falkirk site, is a core part of our ambitious strategy.

“We are proud to announce our plans to further automate and upgrade the facility and bring a number of skilled jobs to the site. This will ensure we can fully maximise its capacity to further support customers’ recycling objectives and play our part in the circular economy.

“We will build on our experience and expertise in this area to implement innovative approaches to ensure we maximise recovery from any waste stream going through the new site for recycling or conversion into energy.”

NPL Group development director Arran Cameron said: “We are delighted to have concluded this transaction with Levenseat that secures the expanded use of this facility and its future to handle ever changing waste compositions and wish Levenseat well in their endeavours and look forward to other successes together.”

Trevor Smart, head of sales for Turmec in the UK, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Levenseat to upgrade its new MRF. This project will involve implementing the latest technology to ensure the new site will operate efficiently and at maximum capacity further underlining Levenseat’s position as a leading Scottish resource management business.”

Levenseat’s acquisition of the MRF is being supported with financing from Virgin Money.

Sandra Gardiner, relationship manager at Virgin Money, said “Levenseat Ltd is an exciting business with clear ambitions for future growth and we are delighted to continue supporting them, both with the purchase of the new Materials Recycling Facility in Falkirk and their plan to modernise the site to create a first-class efficient recycling facility.”