A NEW waste plant proposed for Lostock Gralam would be the first of its kind in the UK if it gets the go-ahead.

Danish firm DONG Energy is looking to build a bioresource facility at Lostock Works to process rubbish, generate electricity and recover recyclable materials.

The plant would use enzymes to remove organic material from waste which would then be digested by bacteria in an anaerobic digestion vessel and used to produce biogas.

This biogas would then fuel gas engines and produce between 5MW and 6MW of electricity, enough to power 9,500 homes per year.

Ian Crummack, from DONG Energy, said: "Scandanavian companies are fairly progressive in environmental terms.

"DONG took the decision a few years ago to stop using fossil fuels where possible.

"They've developed this technology as a direct result to the efforts to progress away from dependency on fossil fuels."

The firm has a demonstration plant that uses the enzyme technology, called REnescience, in Copenhagen, which has been operating since 2009.

It estimates that the Northwich site would create 25 local jobs at a mix of skill levels.

Staff are also keen to allay fears about noise and odours.

Waste will be delivered in enclosed vehicles and unloaded into an waste bunker inside the building with enzyme and biological treatments taking place inside enclosed vessels.

Ian said: "The fact that we're using enzymes is very helpful from that point of view because we're dealing effectively with the stuff that does the smelling, the organic waste."

Noise will not be produced in the enzyme and biological processes, which operate continuously, while noisier parts of the process, including mechanical waste sorting and deliveries, will operate during daytime hours.

DONG estimates there will be an average of four HGV arrivals and departures per hour between 8am and 6pm, although this will be set within the planning process.

If planning consent is granted the plant is expected to be fully operational by April 2017 and would have a lifespan of 25 years.

Ian said: "We can understand that people would have concerns about a waste treatment facility and one of the objectives of our consultation process is to allow people to express their concerns and have their say."

Drop in sessions will be held at Lostock Gralam Community Centre, in Stubbs Lane, from 2pm to 6.45pm on Thursday, July 9 and at Lostock Sports and Social Club, in Works Lane, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, July 11.

An extra session takes place on Tuesday, July 14, from 2pm to 7.30pm at Rudheath Sports and Social Club, in Middlewich Road.

For more information visit dongenergy.co.uk/northwich