Green light for energy waste plant in Dunbar

The project will create a 300,000-tonne "resource efficiency hub"

Plans for a £200m energy from waste plant in East Lothian have been given the go-ahead by Scottish ministers.

Viridor, Scotland's largest recycling, renewable energy and resource efficiency firm, is to build the plant in Oxwellmains, Dunbar.

The project will create a 300,000-tonne "resource efficiency hub" diverting non-recyclable waste from landfill.

It will generate 23mw of electricity, estimated to be enough to power 39,000 homes.

It follows the application, originally lodged in May 2008, being refused by East Lothian Council in November 2009.

Colin Paterson, Scottish regional director for Viridor, said: "The approval of plans for Scotland's most advanced energy from waste facility is good news for sustainability in Scotland and marks a key milestone on the road to delivering the Scottish government's zero waste strategy.

"Zero waste won't happen without a network of new 'next generation' green infrastructure on the ground and in addition to investing in the latest advanced recycling technologies.

"Located on a long-established, rail-linked waste management site, Viridor's resource efficiency hub will work in tandem with enhanced recycling and make a significant contribution towards a smarter strategy for waste reduction, re-use, recycling and recovering energy from what remains."