Four community groups have taken their fight against a controversial £180million incinerator to Aberdeenshire Council.
The energy-from-waste scheme is a joint venture between Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City councils and involves the construction of a facility at East Tullos.
The three authorities are scrambling to meet waste targets set by the government that mean no organic waste can be put into landfill after 2020.
Instead the councils propose incinerating the waste and generating electricity for the local area.
The project has already been approved by Aberdeen City’s planning committee, and the next phase will be discussed by
Aberdeenshire’s elected members when they meet on Wednesday.
The authority’s infrastructure chief Stephen Archer has recommended that councillors back the scheme and approve a £2.5million contribution to the next phase of the plans.
In a report to councillors, Aberdeenshire’s waste manager Sue Horrobin says: “The proposals are now sufficiently advanced that the project is well defined in terms of council collaboration and technical solution and is ready to undertake a procurement exercise to seek a contractor.
“The energy from waste element will reduce the council’s carbon impact by diverting waste from landfill and producing low carbon energy that displaces fossil fuels.”
She added that the incinerator, which could burn 150,000 tonnes of waste each year during its 20-year lifespan, would help power Aberdeen and regenerate the site.
But four local community councils have already raised serious health concerns with Aberdeen City council.
They were unsuccessful in persuading councillors at the Town House to scrap the scheme but will now urge members of the neighbouring authority to pull out.
Last night David Fryers, speaking on behalf of Cove and Altens, Kincorth and Leggart, Nigg, and Torry community councils, said they wanted to present their case to the local authority.
Mr Fryers, secretary of Torry Community Council, said: “We raised a number of concerns prior to the planning application, during the process and since.
“The site itself is in Torry but it affects all of the city and surrounding landward Aberdeenshire.
“Aberdeenshire will be exporting waste but importing harmful gases.
“We wanted to present ourselves to the councillors of Aberdeenshire to share our concerns and so they can ask questions.”
