Plans for a new recycling and waste management centre in Aberdeen have been lodged with the city council.
Sita UK is seeking permission to build the facility on the Altens East industrial estate, close to Doonies Farm
If it gets the go-ahead, the development would significantly reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill and, in turn, help reduce the city’s £5million landfill tax bill.
The site would feature a materials recycling facility, where mixed recyclable items from the kerbside would be split into individual materials before being transferred on for reprocessing and recycling.
It would also house a refuse-derived fuel centre, which would convert black bag rubbish into fuel blocks that can be sold.
No waste would be burned on the Altens East site.
The development would also provide a replacement depot for the council’s waste collection vehicles, which is currently based on Powis Terrace.
If approved, it could be up and running by late 2016 or early 2017, creating around 40 new jobs.
The city council currently pays £5million a year in landfill tax but this will increase unless new measures are introduced to deal with the city’s waste.
Councils in Scotland will also be banned from putting any biodegradable municipal waste into landfill from January 2021.
The Scottish Government has set targets to recycle 70% of waste by 2025, with just 5% going to landfill.
Aberdeen currently recycles 37% of its rubbish, with the remaining 63% going to landfill.
Colin Forshaw, Sita UK’s operations manager in Aberdeen, said: “It is clear that Aberdeen needs to develop new facilities to deal with the city’s waste and we believe this proposal is a long-term, sustainable alternative to landfill that will provide significant environmental benefits.
“During the past four months, we have consulted widely on the plans, offering information and listening to feedback from local representatives and members of the community.
“Our consultation events were well received and, without exception, I think people recognised the need for a facility like this in the city.”
The site was chosen as the preferred location due to its proximity to the existing industrial estate.