Fury as permit granted to controversial waste site

Furious North Ayrshire campaigners have condemned the decision by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to grant a permit to the hugely controversial waste incinerator at Oldhall.

- STEWART MCCONNELL

The permit award for the Oldhall Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) follows consultation conducted by the regulator and confirms the facility will meet SEPA's strict environmental standards.

Oldhall ERF is set to process approximately 185,000 tonnes of postrecycled waste each year.

All recyclable materials will be removed before the waste reaches the facility.

Processing of the presorted waste will recover energy and will generate approximately 17MW of electricity - enough to power the equivalent of 30,000 homes.

The facility will support the Scottish Government's landfill ban which is now coming into effect on January 1, 2028.

The Irvine Without Incinerators Group have labelled the recent granting of the operating licence as a sad day for public health and the environment.

Group member Annie Small said: "We understand that recently SEPA - the so called Scottish Environmental Protection Agency have granted an operating permit to the Waste Incineration plant at the Oldhall West Industrial Estate Irvine.

"This decision has been made in the teeth of substantial local opposition both from the public and our locally based campaign group."