Public consultations on proposals for a new gasification facility in Perth get underway next week.
Recycling and resource management company SITA UK has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to Perth and Kinross Council outlining its plans for a waste gasification plan at Binn Eco Innovation Park.
The company is liaising with local community councils and is hosting three public exhibitions in villages nearby the site. The first exhibition will be held at Strathmiglo Village Hall on Tuesday 22 June, followed by a second exhibition at Glenfarg Village Hall on Wednesday 23 June and the final exhibition at Masons Hall in Abernethy on Thursday 24 June. All three exhibitions will be open from 2pm until 8pm.
People will be able to examine the proposals in detail, as well as ask questions, voice their opinions and help to influence the shape of the plans before an application is submitted to Perth and Kinross Council later in the year.
The new proposal is for a gasification facility that will deal with 60,000 tonnes of waste each year. This will be made up of municipal waste (what is left in black bags after recycled materials have been removed) and business waste. The majority of this waste will come from Perth and Kinross, with some from nearby local authority areas. The waste will be processed with a technology that provides a clean and efficient conversion to electrical power and heat.
It forms part of wider plans to develop the Binn Eco Innovation Park. Led by Binn Skips Ltd, the Park would also include other sustainable waste treatment facilities and clean technology businesses.
Each of the exhibitions will be attended by Martin Cracknell, Strategic Development Manager for SITA UK in Scotland, along with the company's planning managers.
Martin Cracknell said: "We're looking forward to hearing the views of local people in the communities around the Binn Farm site about our plans and we have a team of experienced SITA UK staff available to answer any questions that people have about this proposal."
He added: "Gasification is an effective way to manage waste at a community scale, recovering energy from residual waste that would traditionally have been landfilled."
To help publicise its plans, the company has distributed thousands of information leaflets about the proposal to local homes and to community representatives, community centres and councillors. Posters have also been put up at public venues around the area and a special section has also been set up on SITA UK's website, which can be accessed via www.binn-gasification.co.uk.
The waste gasification plant will require planning approval from Perth and Kinross Council and a waste permit from SEPA before it can operate.
Should the application be successful, the gasification facility will replace plans for a 60,000 tonne per annum energy-from-waste incineration facility, which was granted permission by Perth and Kinross Council in September 2007.