Community groups and nearby residents have only a few days left to comment on proposals for the future of a waste processing hub near Bournemouth Airport.
Recycling and renewable energy company Eco Sustainable Solutions is consulting on plans to add an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) to its Eco Park site in Parley.
The move would help the 25-year-old firm process an extra 60,000 tonnes of waste in addition to the 250,000 tonnes it currently handles.
Because of Covid restrictions and the second lockdown, Eco has not been able to facilitate site visits for those keen to have their say before a planning application is submitted in December.
Instead, the company has created an online consultation including a filmed commentary and walk-through of exhibition boards.
These explain the background to the scheme and how it will help tackle the climate emergency declared by Dorset and BCP councils.
People can also request a video meeting with the project team and provide feedback via an online questionnaire.
Peter Hardy, Commercial Director, said: “It’s disappointing that Covid restrictions mean we haven’t been able to welcome people on site, as planned, but we have still been busy speaking with a range of stakeholder groups and we remain keen to hear people’s views.
“Our pre-application consultation closes at the end of November and so now is the time to have your say before we take the proposals further.”
Up to a fifth of the waste processed at the ERF would be recycled with the rest used to generate low-carbon energy for local homes and businesses.
The plans include a visitor and education centre designed to highlight the need for everyone to do their bit to help tackle climate change.
The ERF would join Eco’s existing clean energy portfolio which consists of a combined heat and power plant and a 1.6MW anaerobic digestion facility at
Piddlehinton near Dorchester as well as the development of 77MW of solar panels in Parley.
This year Eco composted its one millionth tonne of green garden waste and passed the milestone of preventing 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions through its sustainable waste management processes.
To view the ERF film, read more details and take part in the consultation, visit www.thisiseco.co.uk.