An MSP has joined the fight against plans to build a £100 million energy-from-waste incinerator in Ayrshire.
Carol Mochan, Scottish Labour MSP for South Scotland, has objected to the proposed development near Ochiltree.
Ms Mochan has attended a number of roadside protests over recent weeks where organisers of the opposition group were joined by local residents.
Formal objections to the proposed development closed on Monday, July 19.
Ms Mochan said: “It is clear from the constituents I have spoken to, the more than 500 letters handed in to the council, and the well over 500 separate objections registered officially on the council’s own website that this proposed incinerator does not have the support of local people.
“In each conversation I have had with local people, concerns about industrial traffic, increased odours in the surrounding villages and the long-term damage to our climate have been paramount.
“Given the Scottish Government have accepted the case for incinerators across Scotland needs to be reviewed, I think it is only sensible that this plan is halted in its tracks.
“All we ask is that the voice of the people who live, work, and raise their families in this area are taken into account.”
She added: “I am calling on East Ayrshire Council to reject the incinerator proposal and look at alternative uses for this site and better ways to dispose of our waste that will not further damage the climate.”
Behind the proposals are Barr Environmental, who want the incinerator at their Killoch site.
They previously had planning consent for an energy-from-waste facility at their plant, using gasification technology.
However, they now want to update that consent through a new planning application in order to make use of more energy efficient ‘moving grate’ technology.
Moving grate technology converts waste into ash, flue gas, and heat.
Barr Environmental say that the new facility will “safely, cleanly and sustainably” manage up to 166,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year and generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 40,000 homes.
They claim the plans would enable Barr to create 17 new jobs and safeguard 60 which are already part of its existing operations.
Gavin Ramsey, managing director of Barr Environmental, said today: “We’re pleased Ms Mochan recognises the need to dispose of non-recyclable waste in as sustainable a manner as possible because we believe that is exactly what our proposals for the Killoch Energy Recovery Park represent.
“The Scottish Government has set ambitious targets restricting the landfill disposal of household waste by 2025 and we see the Killoch project as being fundamental in achieving this goal for the non-recyclable residue that currently goes to landfill.
“East Ayrshire has a pressing need to deliver on the Scottish Government’s statutory landfill diversion targets, which aim to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill to just five per cent by 2025 and completely ban the landfilling of biodegradable waste by the same date.”
Mr Ramsey said the firm’s plans included “careful technical assessments,” and he vowed that the facility would be operated “cleanly, safely and in a completely responsible manner.”
He added: “This extends to the traffic associated with our site as well as the stringent measures we will be putting in place to protect local air quality.
“We also share Ms Mochan’s concerns about the need to manage non-recyclable waste in a way that is sensitive to environmental concerns and, specifically, the battle to reduce our carbon emissions.
“We were, therefore, pleased to note the announcement this week from Zero Waste Scotland, which confirmed greenhouse gas emissions from energy-from-waste facilities are 27 per cent lower than landfill.”
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