NEARLY 100,000 tonnes of plastics could be recycled each year under ambitious plans for a new facility near Dunbar.

Revised plans for a Polymers Recycling Facility (PRF), which, it is claimed, would help Scotland to reach its climate change and circular economy targets, were revealed last week.

Viridor is keen to see the facility created beside the already-established Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at Oxwellmains, to the south-east of the town.

The developer first revealed plans earlier this year and held a virtual public consultation in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, a second round of consultation has been launched, with members of the public having until November 13 to air their views.

According to one of the slides making up the new virtual consultation, Viridor has “changed” the proposals.

It reads: “Concerns were expressed regarding the size of the facility and visibility of the vent, used to eliminate odour. We have listened to your concerns and have revised our proposals to address these issues.

“The design of the PRF has been amended to limit the need for washing residual waste from plastics on-site.

“Receiving plastics at the site, pre-washed, has allowed us to remove the vent that was part of our original proposal, whilst also ensuring no odour will be emitted from the facility.”

The display also outlines how the facility, if approved, will be the “first major plastic recycling facility” of its kind and “represents a significant investment in East Lothian’s economy”.

The PRF will process a range of used plastics, including plastic bottles, tubs and trays, and will turn them into clean flake and pellet products that will go into new plastic packaging.

The proposed development is broken down into three stages – feedstock, washing and reprocessing.

For more information and to see the virtual exhibition, go to viridor.consultationonline.co.uk

An online discussion with local groups, including community councils, is planned for Wednesday.

The developers intend to submit plans to East Lothian Council by the end of the year, with hopes it could be approved by next summer. Construction is expected to take more than two years, with the PRF opening at the beginning of 2024.