An energy generation and waste recycling plant could be built on the site of a redundant corrugated cardboard plant, feeding electricity directly into the national grid.

New company Biossence has developed a technology that can release energy from commercial waste without the need to burn it. The waste is superheated with no oxygen present, creating a gas similar to methane that can then be used to power gas turbines.

The “gasification” process is both cleaner and more efficient than incineration, extracting up to 50 per cent more energy per ton of waste, according to company director Ralf Trottnow.

The plant, which would be one of only three in the country, is proposed for the 22-acre old SCA Containerboard site, near the River Medway, at the foot of New Hythe Lane in Larkfield (pictured right).

It would cost £80 million to build and would create about 100 jobs, helping to replace the 130 posts lost when SCA closed down in July 2009.

Andy Mann, who was managing director for SCA Containerboard, is returning as project director for the new venture. He said: “When we closed, I promised the lads I would try to see there would be new jobs in the future – and this is the opportunity.”

The proposal is for a three-stage operation, including gasification, recycling and metal recovery plants.

The company expects to generate 22 megawatts of electricity a year from 100,000 tons of waste – about a sixth of the amount processed at the Allington incinerator.

Dr Trottnow said: “Our plans are not finalised yet. We are consulting with the affected councils and we are keen to hear the views of the public so that we can thrash out any concerns before we submit a planning application.”

Traffic will be one of the likely points of controversy, according to Larkfield ward councillor David Thornewell (Lib Dem). He said: “There is a weight restriction at the top of New Hythe Lane, so all deliveries to the plant would have to go along Leybourne Way initially, past Tesco and the Leybourne Lakes development, where traffic is already heavy.”

Biossence will hold public meetings and will be leafletting 10,000 homes in the area next week.

The public meetings will be held on Friday, March 25, from 2pm to 8pm at Larkfield Village Hall, New Hythe Lane, and Saturday, March 26, from 10pm to 2pm at Cobdown Sports and Social Club, Station Road, Ditton.

Factfile

• The site was originally Reeds Paper Mill, first developed by Albert Reed in 1922.
• Biossence is already developing gasification plants in Dagenham, east London, and at Hooton Park on Merseyside.
• The plant would use waste that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
  It would be known as the Aylesford Energy and Recycling Centre.
• The stack will be a maximum of 45m high, less than the nearby Aylesford Newsprint stack (55m).
• No sorting, recycling or treatment of waste will take place in the open air.
• Residents can call the company’s community line for further information: ring 0800 019 2205 or email info@biossenceaylesford.co.uk