Plans for a new recycling centre in Aberdeen that could save the city £5 million each year have been approved by councillors.

Waste management firm SUEZ, the company responsible for processing Aberdeen City Council’s waste, plans to build the facility at Altens Industrial Estate in the south of the city.

SUEZ, formerly SITA UK, claims the recycling centre could process “virtually all” of the city’s waste, effectively eliminating its £5m annual landfill bill.

The facility would be capable of dealing with mixed recycling from both homes and businesses. Mixed recyclables would be split into individual materials and a refuse-derived fuel facility will process black bag waste that has not been recycled. Waste which cannot be recycled could be sold on and used in energy from waste plants.

The four-hectare site at Altens Industrial Estate was chosen as SUEZ’s preferred location because of its size, industrial setting and distance from homes.

The recycling centre would create 40 long-term jobs and 60 more during construction.

The facility is expected to open in 2016.