YORK'S waste is set to be turned into electricity instead of being dumped for landfill under plans for a new transfer station near Rufforth.

Yorwaste says it is preparing a planning application to City of York Council for the station at Harewood Whin - where its landfill supertip is currently based - but it first plans to consult with local residents.

A spokesman said the company would be holding a community consultation event at Rufforth Village Hall from 4pm to 8pm next Tuesday, January 26.

He said the proposed waste transfer station was set to be built on land currently used for offices, opposite an existing materials recycling facility within the heart of the site.

"The plans also include the building a bale store to store recyclable material, new offices and car parking," he said.

"Around 120,000 tonnes of waste per year will be brought to the transfer station and sorted and bulked, before being taken to the Allerton Waste Recovery Park, which will open in 2017. Here the waste will undergo thermal treatment to produce renewable electricity."

Work started last spring on a controversial massive waste incinerator plant at Allerton Park, between York and Knaresborough, following years of environmental objections and funding rows. The project is a joint venture between City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

Yorwaste managing director Steve Barker said the waste transfer station would help York council and local businesses meet their environmental responsibilities through landfill diversion and more recycling and recovery of waste.

“The opening of Allerton Park in 2017 means general household waste which previously had to be landfilled can now be recovered into renewable energy and the waste transfer station will be strategically placed to provide much of the waste for the new facility," he said.

“However, before we submit a planning application we are very keen to hear the views of local residents on our proposals.

“The community consultation event will give people the opportunity to view the plans, ask any questions and suggest ideas they think would improve the proposals.”

The spokesman added that it was anticipated that when Allerton Park was operational, the landfill site at Harewood Whin would be moth-balled.