Landfill gas project 'could raise £2.6m'

A landfill gas scheme launched in the Scottish Borders could generate income of up to £2.6 million, according to early forecasts.

The Landfill Gas Utilisation project requires landfill gas to be collected from the Easter Langlee site in Galashiels in order to generate electricity, which is then fed back into the National Grid.

Len Wyse, executive member for environmental services at the Scottish Borders Council (SBC), which officially introduced the set-up, said the site was designed to capture and employ potential greenhouse gases in order to produce electricity over a sustained period of time.

"This project demonstrates SBC's continued commitment to the local environment," she said.

A number of wells have been installed into the landfill site and connected to a generator via a network of pipes, which is in turn powered by the collected gas.

Meanwhile, another landfill-related project has recently been the focus of one of Britain's largest supermarket chains.

Tesco reported earlier this week that it has achieved its 2010 target of diverting 100 per cent of its waste from landfill more than a year early.

Written by Lauren Steadman