The facility, which received planning permission in 2020, is being developed by Doveryard, a company owned by Octopus Renewables.
Engineering, procurement and construction contractor STC Power began work on the site in May 2022, with the plant scheduled to begin operations in 2026.
Once complete, the ERF is expected to process around 180,000 tonnes per year of residual and commercial waste to generate energy.
SEPA permitting decision
Before the facility can begin operation, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) must grant a permit.
As part of the determination process, SEPA has assessed the potential impact of emissions from the proposed facility and consulted with a range of statutory bodies, including NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NatureScot, North Ayrshire Council, Food Standards Scotland and Scottish Water.
The consultation closed on 22 September 2025, and decisions are expected to be made soon. A draft permit was added to the consultation.
A spokesperson for SEPA said: “As part of the detailed determination process, we assess the impact of emissions from the proposed facility, including the emissions to air and the proposal’s alignment with relevant legislative requirements.
“SEPA consults with the local health board to ensure any potential impacts on public health are fully considered.
“SEPA have received several consultation responses throughout the determination period of the permit.
“We are now considering the representations received during this consultation period prior to making a final determination of this application.”
The facility will also support the Scottish Government’s landfill ban, which comes into force on 31 December 2025.
Concern about the ban has been raised, with a BBC Disclosure investigation suggesting that up to 100 truckloads of Scotland’s waste could be moved to England every day once the ban is in place.
Project Director, Scott Brown, said: “Oldhall will be a key piece of waste management infrastructure for Scotland. We will be processing waste, which would otherwise be sent to landfill or exported out of the country.
“We are delighted to have been awarded our draft permit, and we welcome the report from SEPA once the consultation has closed.”
Irvine Without Incinerators
However, the project continues to face strong opposition from local campaigners.
Irvine Without Incinerators, a community group formed to oppose the ERF, argued that residents were not properly consulted and have written to Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action, urging her to intervene and prevent SEPA from granting a permit.
Veronika Liebscher, a member of Irvine Without Incinerators, said: “We are firmly opposed to this waste incinerator on both health and environmental grounds.
“We continue to make strenuous efforts to ensure that this plant is not granted permission to operate.”
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