PLANS for a new green initiative at Sands Farm Landfill Site, near Calne, will see methane gas converted into clean electricity.

At present, methane gas created by rotting rubbish in the landfill is collected in underground wells and burnt off with a gas flare.

But Viridor Waste Management is confident that enough gas is now produced at the site to power four engines, which it estimates will create four megawatts of electricity a week, which would be fed into the National Grid.

The engines will be housed in purpose-built noise proof metal shells similar in size to containers on cargo ships.

Viridor claims the process would be extremely economical but has also included in its application to North Wiltshire District Council, plans to construct a high temperature enclosed flare to burn off any excess methane.

Viridor's Waste Management external affairs manager, Dan Cooke, said: "The proposals are for a modest development providing a facility to utilise a renewable energy source and further enhance the environmental controls at Sands Farm Landfill.

"Installing the engines when methane levels are high enough is standard practice on Viridor sites across the UK."

District councillor of Calne Without, Nancy Bryant, said: "Anything that can utilise the redundant gas coming from the landfill site to be used for electricity must be a step in the right direction."

Calne town councillor and member of Friends Of The Earth, Joanne Heselwood, said: "In principle we would be for this application. At the moment methane is wasted because it's just burnt off. It makes much more sense to turn it into a source of energy."

Methane is a greenhouse gas and is considered to be more damaging than carbon dioxide because it is 21 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere. But Viridor is confident the installation of the engines will reduce the risk of offsite odours and eliminate or at least minimise the site's contribution to global warming.

Viridor plans to present its proposals to community representatives and interested parties in Calne.

Mr Cooke said: "Hopefully we can provide our assurance that it's a modest proposal with environmental benefits."