A £50m waste plant is now firmly on the horizon to divert 150,000 tonnes of waste every year from landfill, creating enough electricity to power 20,000 homes.

Clearaway has lodged a planning application for a new “energy recovery facility” on the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, Pitsea.

The new plan comes as rubbish from across south Essex is sent to landfill sites following the failure of the Tovi Eco Park in Basildon last year.

The waste at the new plant will be used to generate up to 11mw of electricity and will also create ten full-time, permanent jobs, as well as more opportunities during construction, the company says.

Bosses say the new plant, close to Clearaway Group’s existing recycling facility, will help to tackle two problems facing society – how to sustainably manage the waste we produce, and how to create secure, low carbon sources of energy.

The plant will also accommodate the existing waste left after recycling leaves the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate and goes to landfill.

This will lead to a significant reduction in the number of vehicle movements off the estate, bosses say.

At the end of the process, the only remaining product is ash and it is proposed that most of this (the bottom ash) will be used to make bricks for the construction industry.

The bricks will be made on site and heat from the plant (which would otherwise be wasted) will be used to dry the bricks.

Paul Whitehair, co-founder of the Clearaway Group along with his brother Ian, said: “We received more than 500 comments on the application, and we note that such responses included a significant amount of people who welcomed finding an alternative to landfill.

“One of the main concerns was whether the facility would increase HGV movements and we are really pleased that the facility will actually reduce the number of trips by over 6500 a year as the waste that our Group cannot commercially recycle will no longer have to go to landfill.

“By avoiding landfill, reducing the number of transport movements and using the ash to create bricks with a lower carbon footprint we’re also going to be reducing carbon emissions.

“We also note that many concerns were expressed relating to the expected emissions from the facility and we want to reassure people that we promise to oversee a well-run facility that, as minimum, meets the strict limits in place set by environmental and Government authorities.

“We are committed to publishing details of live emissions data on our website once the facility is authorised and able to commence operations.”

Basildon Council’s deputy leader, Kerry Smith, believes another location must be found for any new waste processing plant and described the Pitsea location as “lazy”.

He said: “There could be an incinerator option somewhere well away from residential properties. I don’t feel Basildon for a second time will be the county council’s answer following Tovi Eco Park.

“To be perfectly blunt, somewhere rural, well away from the population near the coast there could be some arrangement. It’s just lazy sticking it in Pitsea.

“When the wind is turning east the rubbish in the air will come towards our constituency.”

The Clearaway Group, together with the Waste-A-Way Group - also owned by the family - has been based in Basildon for more than a decade, employing more than 100 people.

The application is expected to be decided by Essex County Council before the end of 2021. If plans are approved, the plant up should be open by autumn 2023.