Landfill lifespan could be extended by 15 years through extension
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) has gone out to tender on a project which could extend the lifespan of its Gremista landfill by a further 15 years.
The SIC is inviting tenders for phase three of the extension, which will primarily involve cut and fill earthworks, new haul roads, new surface water drainage ditches, pipework and manholes.
Tenders are being invited until 19 August, with the contract for the work set to last two years.
The SIC said contractors would need to prove their experience of having delivered projects of a similar scope and nature.
Each applicant will be asked if they can prove they have successfully completed a project as a principal contractor in an “island geographical location”.
This must have been accomplished on an island “where access is only achievable via aeroplane or boat”.
Other criteria include successful completion of a civil engineering contract involving the management of specialist sub-contractors, and successful completion of an earthworks project including the excavation and reinstatement of peat.
No specific cost has been associated with the contract, but councillors heard in March 2025 that the construction work could cost more than £5 million.
An expansion is needed because it is expected that the landfill site, where waste which cannot be recycled or incinerated is buried, will reach capacity in 2027.
The business justification case estimated that construction work on a third phase of landfill could cost £5.7 million.
Add in design and management fees, as well as capping the phase two area, and the total cost of the project could rise to £6.575 million.
This would be funded by external borrowing, with fees at the site potentially going up to offset costs.
The business case said a third phase would provide around 17,000 square metres of capacity, which could last for 15 years.
The landfill site currently takes in an average of 16,740 tonnes of waste every year, including waste from construction, fish farms and sewage sludge from the water treatment plant.
The business case added: “It should be noted that although the Scottish Government are aiming to drastically reduce the amount of waste going to landfill over the next 10-15 years, this is likely to be a very gradual change.
“The need for a landfill in Shetland would still be essential over this next period as detailed in the following sections.”
Without a landfill site waste would have to be shipped south, and this would come at an estimated cost of around £3.3 million a year.
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