Mass redundancies after company announces closure of recycling plant in Port Glasgow, Greenock

Up to 65 people in Greenock could lose their jobs after a recycling firm announced it will close its manufacturing plant in the area.

Plastics company Berry BPI told staff that the Port Glasgow site will soon shut, making dozens of workers redundant.

The closure comes weeks after the firm cut 20 jobs from its factory in Stevenston on the Ardeer industrial estate.

The business, which bills itself as one of Europe’s biggest recyclers of plastic, pointed to decreasing demand from its customers in the construction, industrial packaging and healthcare sectors.

A spokesman said: “As a result, BPI has regrettably had to announce a number of possible redundancies, with up to 65 roles potentially affected.

“We will endeavour, where at all possible, to find suitable alternative employment for our employees either within or outside the Berry Group.”

Both the financial shared service centre and the head office at the site will remain open, the firm added.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, who represents the local area, said the announcement is “another jobs blow for Inverclyde coming so soon after the closure of Amazon”.

He said: “We look to the Scottish Government and PACE partners to work together to see what can be done to support the affected workers

“This underlines the need for action to create jobs here.”