GAS flaring is set to begin later this year at a former landfill site – in a bid to reduce the build-up of underground gases there.

The Scottish Government has approved a £250,000 grant to install equipment to release the build-up of gas at the former Carberry landfill site, near Whitecraig, after tests confirmed it would be suitable for flaring.

However, East Lothian Council has said the volume of gas involved means it will not produce enough to be harnessed into any type of energy, but added that the process would "significantly add to the Scottish targets on carbon management".

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said the need to introduce flaring highlighted the flawed approach to waste handling in the past.

She said: "Fundamentally it demonstrates just how short-sighted our waste handling processes have been. It's a reminder we should be reducing waste rather than dumping it and foolishly thinking it will become someone else's problem."

And she called for local residents to be consulted on the plans, adding: "It's important that East Lothian Council explains the extent of the problem so that local residents are fully informed. People living nearby need assurances about the health and environmental impacts of burning off this gas."

A planning application outlining the system to be installed is to go before the council later this year.

The former Carberry landfill site lies between Carberry Mains Farm and Carberry Tower and is a former coal bing which began being used for landfill in the 1970s.

Although Carberry closed in June 2000, after reaching capacity, it was designed as a "dilute and disperse landfill", meaning that waste would continue to gradually degrade, producing the gases which were released into the air through vent stacks.

SEPA asked the local authority to look at the gas management in depth and, after work was completed last year, it was decided the site does produce enough gas to justify using flaring equipment to disperse it.

A council spokesperson said: "The emission levels, whilst posing no risk to the immediate environment, were insufficient to produce energy but would, if flared off, significantly add to the Scottish targets on carbon management.

"As such, the Scottish Government has confirmed that East Lothian Council will be awarded a grant in April to enable us to procure and install a full gas management system at Carberry landfill site, which should be completed by the end of 2016."

SEPA describes flaring as a way of disposing of the flammable constituents, particularly methane, safely and to control odour nuisance, health risks and adverse environmental impacts.