A COMPANY plans to develop a green waste landfill site in east Durham.

Durham-based Premier Waste Management is to seek planning permission from Durham County Council to use a 188-acre site next to the A181 at Wingate Grange, near Wingate.

The firm says it will use the latest aerobic digester technology, which it has been pioneering, to minimise the impact of the dump.

It already operates an experimental digester, which turns household rubbish into compost and recyclable by-products such as aluminium, steel, glass and plastics, at Thornley.

Almost eight per cent of the waste can be recovered and the remainder goes to the landfill site.

The firm says it has plans to set up a second, bigger, digester at Tursdale after being selected for a Government programme that aims to cut the dumping of biodegradable waste.

Vehicle access will be from the A181 and a reception centre will be built to process deliveries.

The firm, which works for several councils, says only a small fraction of the site will be operational at any time and the area will be restored on a phased basis and eventually go back to farmland.

Company chief executive Dr Les Grant said: "We will be combining our expertise in aerobic digester technology to pre-treat household waste and reduce the biodegradable element with modern methods of operating a landfill site which allow for progressive restoration.

"This will curtail the build- up of methane gas and means that less than three per cent of the site will be being filled at any one time. The site will be the first in the UK to take such a large proportion of treated waste."

Premier Waste Management has pledged to consult councillors and the community about its plans.