The proposed incinerator, earmarked for Viridor Waste Management's Oxwellmains landfill site, is no longer designed to take municipal waste from West Lothian and Scottish Borders.

It will still service the municipal solid waste needs of East Lothian, Midlothian and Edinburgh and the area's commercial and industrial waste management - 300 tonnes in total to generate more than 25MW of electricity with the potential to also provide heat to a number of local businesses.

The amount of residual municipal solid waste to be processed at the facility would be reduced to 150,000 tonnes alongside 150,000 tonnes of residual commercial and industrial waste, the company stated.

Changed

Originally the incinerator was designed to deal with a maximum of 450,000 tonnes of residual waste a year.

Local MSP Iain Gray told the News: "I always thought that it was likely that Viridor would come back with revised proposals but I am surprised by how little the size of the plant has changed compared to the original plans.

"Obviously, I need to study the revised proposals in more detail but my initial reaction is that this slightly smaller plant still does not address the concerns which local residents have.

Unlikely

"For one thing, the proposed 300,000 tonne capacity remains well above what is needed to deal with our local municipal waste and still seems at odds with the policy of the Scottish Government.

"So I'm disappointed by the new proposals which are unlikely to be welcomed by local residents."

Dan Cooke, external affairs manager at Viridor, said: "The reduction in size and capacity allows the facility to reflect local need and the aspirations of the Scottish Government."

Full report and local reaction in East Lothian News, May 16, 2008