PLANS have been submitted to vary the type of waste burned by a Runcorn incinerator.

A public consultation has been launched by the Environment Agency after Viridor tabled a request for an environmental permit variation for its facility off Picow Farm Road in Weston Point.

The plan would see it expand the types of waste it accepts to include mixed municipal waste such as household waste. The application said it would be non-hazardous and would not result in an overall increase of the amount of waste sent to the site every year. It said the new waste was similar to what the site already accepted.

The site is currently allowed to receive up to 1,100,000 tonnes a year of refuse derived fuel (RDF) which arrives by road and rail and operates 24-hours-a-day. If the application is approved,  the new waste being transported and burned would replace some of that.

Nigel Glasgow, Cheshire’s area environment manager for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency is giving residents and businesses the opportunity to comment on the permit variation application for the existing Viridor incinerator site in Runcorn. We regulate the incinerator under an existing environmental permit."

"The consultation is open until August 4 and we welcome your views and feedback before a final decision is made.”

For further information including the application details and how to provide comments visit.

Or email: pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk

For advice about how to make a representation or if you are unable to make a representation via e-mail call 03708 506 506.