New energy centre planned for Lanarkshire

Viridor has unveiled proposals for a multi-million-pound energy recovery facility (ERF) south of Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.  

The Overwood ERF will transform up to 330,000t per annum of non-recyclable municipal, commercial and industrial waste into energy in the form of heat and electricity.

The proposed development will be located on land adjoining the existing Dovesdale logistics and waste management complex, which already has planning permission for an ERF facility. As part of this planning application, subject to receiving planning permission, the existing permission will be revoked. 

Virodor says this proposal is in direct response to the Scottish Government’s “Zero Waste” strategy and the forthcoming ban on the landfilling of food, paper, garden and any other biodegradable household waste by 2025. According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scotland sent 1.46M tonnes of household and similar waste to landfill in 2019. 

Viridor Planning Manager (North and Scotland) Grant Scott said: “The proposed Overwood Energy Recovery Facility is a state-of-the-art development that will play a vital role in diverting our everyday waste from landfill.

“By utilising waste left over from the recycling process, the facility will convert it into electricity, helping to meet the upcoming landfill ban and supporting the Scottish Government’s “Zero Waste” strategy.”

Following the consultation process, a planning application supported by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be submitted to South Lanarkshire Council this summer (2021).