Efforts to 'Normalise' Planning at Proposed Scottish Waste to Energy Facility

22 January 2012

Waste to energy and recycling company, Viridor has confirmed the next steps in its plans to develop a 300,000 TPA waste to energy facility at its existing Oxwellmains waste treatment facility in East Lothian.

According to the company, it will now consult on its £200 million plans to develop 'next generation' zero waste infrastructure at the site, ahead of a formal application to normalise planning conditions associated with the application in-line with Scottish Government policy.

Viridor claimed that this is line with both national policy and indeed reflects East Lothian's own recognition of the inappropriateness of such boundaries.

Specifically the company said that the application will seek to remove an "artificial" restriction on the geographic areas from where non-recyclable residual waste may be received.

"Viridor is seeking to remove the artificial boundary on waste reception, in line with fresh policy from Scottish Government and SEPA and will shortly begin a twelve week consultation with local stakeholders," commented Martin Grey, Viridor's Scottish communications manager.

According to the company, the approval by Scottish Ministers for the facility marked a key milestone in Scottish zero waste policy. 

"It recognised that along with waste reduction, reuse and enhanced recycling, there was an urgent requirement for 'next generation' technology to transform the non-recyclable waste that until now would have gone to landfill into a valuable renewable energy resource," explained Grey.


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