Perth & Kinross council has approved an application by waste firm SITA UK to build an energy from waste plant and materials recycling facility at Binn Farm, South East of Perth.
The facilities are intended to handle both residual and recyclable municipal waste from Perth and Kinross from 2013, subject to the council renewing its long-term waste disposal contract with SITA, which ends in 2009.
John Grainger, SITA UK general manager with responsibility for Scotland, said: “We are delighted that the planning application for developments at Binn Farm has been approved.
“We hope that local residents will work with us to ensure that the next stages of development proceed well and to their satisfaction, ” he added.
Energy
Under SITA UK's proposals, the energy from waste plant at Binn Farm will process 60,000 tonnes of residual waste a year to product 4.7MW of electricity. This is expected to meet the domestic electricity needs of 7,900 homes.
The waste company claims that, even though incineration was often viewed as a controversial waste technology, its proposal is “entirely consistent with the Tayside Strategic Outline Case” which plans the future of waste management in the region as it says energy from waste is its preferred option.
Mr Grainger said: “SITA UK believes its proposals, which rely on tried and tested technology, are the best option for reducing the amount of local waste being sent to landfill in Perth and Kinross. Recent policy announcements form the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Convention of Local Scottish Authorities (COSLA) have both backed energy from waste with COSLA calling it ‘one component of a sensible and practical waste strategy.”
Recycling
The materials recycling facility, meanwhile, will process 16,000 tonnes of dry recyclables collected at the kerbside in Perth and Kinross and the surrounding area – including glass, paper and plastic.
Mr Grainger said: “We will now begin the process of applying for a Pollution Prevention Control permit (PPC) from SEPA. The PPC permit is a document that provides the framework for the operating and monitoring of the new facilities, and is essential for us to move this project to the next stage.”
Register for free to comment