“This is probably the worst day I’ve had in 31 years.”
These were the words of Binn Waste Management managing director Brian Harkins after a massive blaze ripped through a brand new facility in the early hours of Friday morning.
Although he described the fire as a “major setback”, the businessman told The Courier he would have the solid recovered fuel unit up and running within six months.
He said: “It was pretty devastating. The entire management team came straight to the site in the early hours of this morning and have been here ever since.
“This is a family company and we really have a passion for what we do. It’s a setback, but it’s absolutely not going to stop us opening this facility.”
In the meantime, however, he faces an extensive clean-up operation after 100 tonnes of waste went up in flames at the Glenfarg recycling facility.
More than 40 firefighters spent six hours tackling the fire which broke out in a steel shed at around 2.15am.
At its height, there were 11 appliances on the site and the blaze was under control by 8.30am.
Fire Crews remained on the scene for most of the day and will return today to check the building and the site.
Photo by Angus Findlay Photographers