A NEW waste plant planned for Oxfordshire could take thousands of tonnes of waste every year from London.

Waste Recycling Group (WRG) is to submit plans for a £20m biological treatment plant on the Sutton Courtenay landfill site to Oxfordshire County Council.

Some west London waste is currently dumped at Sutton Courtenay.

WRG was last year unsuccessful in its bid to build an £100m incinerator at the site, with County Hall eventually choosing a scheme by Viridor at Ardley, near Bicester.

WRG said it now wants to build a plant using a different technology known as MBT, where waste goes through various biological and mechanical processes.

The company says the new plant could take Oxfordshire’s waste if Viridor is unsuccessful in its bid to build a giant incinerator at Ardley. However if it is, the southern site would be able to deal with rubbish from west London.

The 370m by 130m plant could sort and compost 220,000 tonnes of waste a year.

Alan Bulpin, planning and estates manager for WRG, said: “We believe it offers both a cost-effective and sustainable option for managing Oxfordshire’s residual waste. It will help the county achieve its aim of diverting non-recyclable or compostable waste away from landfill.”

l The company’s plans will be on show to the public at Sutton Courtney Village Hall on Friday, July 2, from 2pm to 8pm, and Saturday, July 3, from 10am to 2pm.