Residents urged to speak up on £70m incinerator project

Firm keen to hear from public over plans for new plant at Glenfarg site

Bosses at one of Scotland’s biggest waste management firms are seeking residents’ feedback about plans for a £70 million incinerator.

Binn Group has returned to Perth and Kinross Council with new plans for an energy from waste (EfW) plant at its Glenfarg site, with 41% more capacity than its previously-lodged proposals.

Previous plans for smaller incinerators were approved in 2007 and 2011 and the firm still has permission to press ahead with those designs if it wishes.

However, management hope their ambitious bid will allow them to further expand the project.

The fresh plans seek to increase the plant capacity from 60,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste to 84,900 tonnes each year.

The firm states this would still be one of the smallest commercial EfW plants in the UK and the smallest on mainland Scotland.

It is expected the development will bring 30 full-time jobs, as well as 200 jobs during its construction.

Energy produced from the incinerator could reach levels capable of powering 14,500 homes.

Analysts at the waste management firm suggest the upgraded project could generate £12.6m for Scotland and £2.8m locally.

The firm began their consultation period for the major development last Thursday with a webinar.

Binn’s John Ferguson said: “The consultation period closes at 5pm on July 31. We’d still like to hear from members of the community.”

Anyone wishing to participate in the consultation can contact Binn Group via telephone, email or post.

Binn Group currently ships nonrecyclable waste to mainland Europe but says this is not sustainable.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Binn Group project manager Stuart Fraser, Beautiful Perth chairman John Summers and planning consultant Nick Roberts at a public consultation in Bridge of Earn in January.