Plans for waste recycling facility expanded

A recycling and renewable energy company has submitted proposals to expand one of its planned facilities.

Eco Sustainable Solutions recycles green and food waste for BCP Council and Dorset Council.

Its original plans for an energy recovery facility at Chapel Gate Eco Park at Parley, near Christchurch, Dorset, were approved by BCP Council in 2022.

The company says its updated proposals mean the 15.8-hectare site will be "more efficient and sustainable" and deal with non-recyclable materials.

The facility would convert the non-recyclable waste into electricity and heat for the national grid, which Eco Sustainable Solutions claims will reduce reliance on landfill and avoid the need to transport waste long distances elsewhere.

It also says the facility will generate power for more than 14,000 homes each year.

If approved construction could begin in 2029.

• Increasing green waste and wood waste recycling by 5,000 tonnes each
• Dealing with materials that cannot be recycled (and would otherwise be sent to landfill) by increasing capacity from 60,000 to 105,000 tonnes per year
• Using AI-led technology to pre-sort material on-site, allowing an additional 25,000 tonnes of recyclable materials per year
• Supporting about 30 additional on-site jobs
• New office, welfare, visitor and education facility

Technical development director Mike Eborne called it an "exciting and important development".

"By building on existing infrastructure and investing in innovative technology, we can recycle more local material, recover valuable resources that might otherwise be lost, and reduce the carbon impact of local waste."

A public consultation and exhibition was held at Eco's Chapel Lane site last month.

A planning application has now been submitted to BCP Council.