Solvent Recycling Improvements
Veolia has Expanded its Solvent Recovery Capacity in the UK
Colin Smith — July 25, 2025
Veolia has expanded the solvent recovery capacity at its Garston, Liverpool, facility to 86 000 tonnes per year in response to growing industrial demand for recycled solvents and sustainable alternative fuels. The upgrade enables the effective recycling of used solvents, waste paint thinners and solvent-based paints into high-quality products suitable for redeployment across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, paint, agrochemicals and cement manufacturing. The process employs multiple distillation technologies to separate residues and refine solvent mixtures, ensuring that recycled outputs meet industry specifications while displacing virgin materials in the supply chain.
In addition to increased throughput, the Garston plant’s enhancements deliver substantial carbon-emission reductions. The solvent recovery process is projected to save approximately 172 000 tonnes of CO₂e annually compared with using virgin solvents—equivalent to removing about 78 000 diesel cars from the road. An on-site energy centre now utilises distilled product fuel to power steam boilers, cutting natural-gas consumption by around 10 000 MWh per year. Infrastructure investments include new distillation columns, 17 dedicated storage and transfer tanks, and two high-throughput tanker loading bays to streamline both waste intake and recycled-product dispatch.
