The Scottish New Generation Group visited the Smith Anderson paper and carton recycling facility on 16th August 2005. The Smith Anderson Group are the leading independent, fully integrated, recyclers and manufacturers of Paper, Paper Packaging and Envelopes in Europe.

The site visit was led by Mr Keith Verden-Anderson and colleagues who provided an overview of the company and led the 20 delegates round the site.  Waste paper is brought to Smith Anderson from various premises in both the Public and Private sector.  Confidential waste is shredded and different colours and grades of paper are segregated.  The segregated paper is then pulped and recycled on site into new paper materials of differing qualities depending on the waste materials used, including paper bags for fast foods and bakeries and envelopes for a wide customer base.  Approximately 5000 tonnes of paper is recycled per month at this facility and almost all of the products they manufacture are made from 100% recycled paper.

Smith Anderson also have a facility to recycle drinks cartons and is currently the only paper mill in the UK with this facility.   The paper, sandwiched between the plastic outer and the aluminium inner layers of the carton is considered to be high quality and contains the fibres necessary to make strong paper products. Cartons are pulped and the plastics and aluminium are separated out.  At present, the non-paper materials are sent to landfill but Smith Anderson hope to find an alternative use for this.

Smith Anderson are currently working with numerous businesses and local Authorities throughout Scotland to increase the volume of paper and carton materials which are recycled and have capacity to increase the tonnages they recycle. 

This was a very interesting and useful oversight of Smith Anderson’s facilities. Thanks to Keith and his colleagues. For further information on the operation or services of Smith Anderson, please see www.smithanderson.co.uk