by Hayley Robinson

The green light has been given to one of the country’s largest recycling facilities to power its operations with a new sustainable energy plant.

The permit from the Environment Agency means DS Smith Paper, the owners of Kemsley Mill, can now build a state-of-the-art facility that would be fuelled by up to 550,000 tonnes of pre-treated waste a year.

It’s hoped an extra 40 jobs will be created.

Construction of the new plant, which will be built on a former coal yard within the mill boundaries, will begin in spring 2013 with completion scheduled for 2016.

The plant will be developed and operated by E.ON and Wheelabrator Technologies.

The site is already home to a gas-fired combined heat and power plant, as well as a smaller energy plant producing steam from its waste products.

The mill’s commercial director, Will Faure Walker, said: "The proposed plant would make the mill less reliant on price-volatile natural gas supplies and help ensure it remains competitive, helping protect the jobs of the 800 people employed here.

"It will enhance our environmental performance and result in a 200,000 tonne net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions a year, equivalent to taking more than 90,000 cars off the road."