A COMMUNITY project in Renfrewshire has been handed a welcome cash boost after Glasgow Airport introduced a new way to recycle litter.

Reverse vending machines were installed within the terminal last year as part of a pilot project to encourage passengers and staff to recycle more of their cans and bottles. 

Glasgow Airport pledged to donate 5p for every item deposited. The final total raised was £134.85, which was rounded up to £150 and match funded by waste management partner Biffa.

The money has been awarded to local sustainability organization LEAP Together, which received £3,000 from the airport’s FlightPath Fund to establish Lochwinnoch Community Larder earlier this year. 

The Fund had previously awarded LEAP £2,800 to help purchase a low-emission vehicle for its community car club.

Tori Bell, project officer at LEAP Together, said: “This kind of support really helps us and our community. We’ve had excellent support from the airport since our award from the FlightPath Fund and we’re discussing many different ways we can work together going forward.”

Kirsty Webster, sustainability manager at Glasgow Airport, said: “How we work with and support our local communities is a key pillar of our Sustainability Strategy.

“LEAP provides a wide range of sustainably-themed community projects across Renfrewshire and its Lochwinnoch Community Larder is a fantastic example of how groups can support their local communities in a way that has a positive impact on the environment.”