RECYCLING bosses in Glasgow today defended their £135million plans for a system they claim will make the city the greenest in Scotland.

RECYCLING bosses in Glasgow today defended their £135million plans for a system they claim will make the city the greenest in Scotland.

Environmental campaigners had expressed concern over council plans for an autoclave system, first unveiled in yesterday's Evening Times.

They said the steam system that pre-treats and processes waste into organic material could cause pollution and use vast amounts of energy.

And Green MSP Patrick Harvie accused the authority of shirking its responsibility to household recycling.

He added: "Glasgow's track record on reducing waste is among the worst in Scotland, and the council cannot use this scheme as an excuse for their continued failure to back household recycling.

"These autoclave systems are no magic bullet."

But council bosses believe the massive investment is the best means of tackling the city's woeful recycling record, revealed on Tuesday as the worst in Scotland with just 17.9% of waste reused. This system, they say, will see that recycling figure rise to 80% by 2013.

A spokesman said: "I don't think anybody is trying to claim this is a panacea.

"We know any of the technologies available for residual waste involve using energy including taking lorries to landfill, but we feel autoclave is the most sensible and functional option. Glasgow faces very specific challenges in achieving its waste targets and, in autoclaving, the council now has a realistic and practical way of managing its residual waste and overcoming some of those challenges.

"The system is cleaner, safer and more efficient than standard mechanical sorting, incineration and other available technologies."