Viridor is to hold a virtual public exhibition starting next week to share its plans to build a polymers reprocessing plant at Dunbar in Scotland with the local community.
In the wake of COVID-19, what would have originally been a consultation process featuring drop-in sessions, has been amended to offer details of the plans online, with the option of requesting paper copies by telephone or email. Viridor is also circulating a newsletter to the surrounding community.
Viridor said that, like the plastics reprocessing plant being built at Avonmouth, near Bristol, the new polymers facility at Dunbar would receive low-carbon heat and power generated from non-recyclable waste at its adjacent energy recovery facility. It would put up to 85,000 tonnes of recycled plastic back into the circular economy annually.
Dunbar ERF generates 258GWh of energy – enough to continuously power the equivalent of 70,656 homes – and up to 10MW of heat.
Our plans are designed to help Scotland deliver its ambitious climate change and circular economy targets. Scotland’s goal is to ensure that recyclable materials consumed here are retained within a Scottish circular economy
Earlier this year Viridor briefed its Dunbar Community Liaison Group about its intention to begin a planning application process with East Lothian Council. The company advised members that this process would pave the way for a polymers reprocessing facility to be built at Viridor Dunbar.
A Viridor spokesperson said: “Our plans are designed to help Scotland deliver its ambitious climate change and circular economy targets. Scotland’s goal is to ensure that recyclable materials consumed here are retained within a Scottish circular economy.
“To achieve this, Scotland will need companies like Viridor to invest in recycling infrastructure, such as the facility we are proposing.
“Dunbar represents an excellent opportunity to co-locate a new polymers reprocessing plant with Dunbar ERF. In this way, the country will be able to achieve both its resource and energy efficiency goals.”
Residents and stakeholders can find out more about Viridor’s plans by visiting www.viridor.consultationonline.co.uk between Friday 24 April and Friday 8 May 2020 to find out more and provide feedback on the plans.