A PUBLIC consultation was launched today to give people the chance to have their say on a planned £154million rubbish recycling plant in Glasgow.

The community consultation will last 12 weeks and the company behind the plant will inform locals about the centre, which will turn waste into electricity.

The huge "energy-from-waste" facility will be built in Polmadie, in the South Side, and process up to 200,000 tonnes of domestic rubbish each year, as reported by the Evening Times last November.

Despite opposition from SNP and Green Party councillors, Glasgow City Council gave the site the go-ahead in December.It is due to open by 2015.

Steven Don, Scottish regional manager for sustainable waste company Viridor, said: "Our commitment is to support Glasgow City Council in achieving its ambitious aim of becoming one of Europe's most sustainable cities through enhanced recycling and recovering green energy from what remains."

Recycling bosses say the 25-year contract will save the city £254m and the equivalent of 28,000 tonnes of CO² every year.

The plant should generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 20,000 households and heat the equivalent of 8000 homes from the non-recyclable waste that remains.

Bosses have avoided calling the new plant an "incinerator" because it is different from traditional incinerators, which burned rubbish, releasing dangerous toxins in the air.

Although environmental campaigners and some engineers would call the waste-to-energy plant an incinerator, the plant will use hi-tech systems to turn non-recyclable rubbish into gas – and then burn that gas to create steam and drive electricity turbines.

Bosses say up to 250 jobs will be created, including 25 apprenticeships, and will boost local businesses throughout the building programme.

Mr Don added: "Our proposed centre represents the next generation of sustainable waste plants akin to what it is established in Norway, Sweden and Holland, built to the highest standards and providing significant benefits to the people in the surrounding areas and across Greater Glasgow, through jobs, investment and economic growth.

"We are keen to hear from the community. We are committed to listening and responding to questions or concerns and will continue to work hard alongside the city council to keep people informed as we progress."

Viridor, a recycling, renewable energy and sustainable waste management company, was awarded the contract to handle Glasgow's domestic residual waste after a 22-month tender process.

But environment campaigners oppose the energy-from-waste approach. They say such plants create an incentive for councils to produce more rubbish and recycle less.

The Unison, Unite and GMB trade unions also wrote to every Glasgow councillor urging opposition to the plant.

There will be a series of public events on June 18 and 19 at the Royal Concert Hall; June 21 at the Larkfield Centre; and June 22 and 23 at Toryglen Community Football Centre.

You can also have your say at www.transformingwastein glasgow.com or at Twitter feed @viridor_glasgow

catriona.stewart@eveningtimes.co.uk