Incinerator bosses bid to reassure residents over £70mproposals

Bosses from one of Britain’s biggest waste management firms held talks with residents yesterday to shed light on their plans for a £70 million incinerator.

Binn Group, which employs around 150 people, is looking to install an energy from waste (EFW) furnace at its Glenfarg Ecopark. The company says it is the most sustainable way to deal with waste which cannot be reused or recycled, particularly after Brexit.

Bosses spoke to community groups and local politicians at Dunbarney Church in Bridge of Earn at two meetings yesterday.

They say the scheme will produce enough energy to power more than 14,500 homes while generating more than £900m and creating 30 fulltime permanent jobs, along with 200 construction roles.

Project manager Stuart Fraser said: “At Binn, we recycle or reuse around 70% of the waste that comes in. The rest is converted into solid, recovered fuel which is baled and shipped to Europe.

“This isn’t sustainable in the long run and Brexit could affect shipping.

“There are 48 operational EFW incinerators in the UK and 14 more under construction. This will be the sixth smallest.”

Residents have raised fears about the impact of lorries on roads around Glenfarg.

Bosses have pledged they will meet communities to discuss measures, such as signs instructing drivers to use the M90 slip road at Bridge of Earn instead. If Perth and Kinross Council planners agree to the plans, the plant could be operational by early 2023.

Approval for smaller incinerators was signed off in 2007 and 2011 and is still in place.