South Scotland MSPs Claudia Beamish and Colin Smyth visited the new and exciting Lockerbie business MacRebur this week to find out more about how they plan to transform our roads with recycled plastic.
The company has developed a product MR6 which is made from recycled plastic bottles and bags which they hope will replace the traditional asphalt, tar method currently used. MR6 is a stronger substance, cheaper to use and greener.
MacRebur caught the eye of Virgin Boss Richard Brandson when earlier this year they won the Virgin Media Business Voom award for best Start Up Business.
Colin Smyth MSP said:
“It’s fantastic that we have such an innovative business like MacRebur on our own doorstep in Dumfries and Galloway. It shows that businesses can thrive within the region. As a family business, I was particularly impressed by their desire to work with and support other local businesses in the area. It is clear that MacRebur have a really unique groundbreaking product and it will be exciting to watch how the company develops and hopefully expands to create jobs in the area “.
Claudia Beamish MSP commented:
“I am very impressed with the innovative work MacRebur are doing. As Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Spokesperson for Scottish Labour it’s the environmental aspect which I find most exciting. This is part of the new circular economy.
“Waste disposal is still a challenge. Our landfill sites are awash with plastic, as are our coastal areas which are a danger to our Wildlife. We have to find more ways to put waste to good use if we are going to see a reduction in our carbon emissions. MacRebur has grasped this problem and developed a credible alternative to using asphalt and tar.
“I was delighted to find out that as well as being a local business to Dumfries and Galloway itself, they use a wide range of local firm’s themselves as part of the wider project.
“They were up against tough competition for the Virgin Award and to win it reinforces the potential in this product. It was cool to stand on a recycled plastic road!”
Toby McCartney from MacRebur said:
“Everyone knows someone who has been affected by potholes – they’re a big problem for the general public across the UK, and councils are spending millions of pounds each year on repairing standard asphalt roads as well as building new ones. In addition, the problem of plastic filling our landfills and contaminating our oceans has never been greater. To be able to bring a product to the market that helps resolve two major problems in today’s world, without creating a new one, is something pretty special and we’re really excited about the difference we can make to both local communities and the environment alike.”
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