The international support services and construction group is to undertake a 36 month build programme at Viridor’s existing Oxwellmains waste treatment hub and is due to complete in December 2017. In operation the ERF will support 55 full-time jobs, boosting the East Lothian economy by £10m each year.

Ian Renhard, managing director of Interserve Construction said: “We are pleased that our continued work with our partners Babcock & Wilcox Vølund A/S and Viridor on another Energy Recovery Facility will not only assist UK environmental targets, but also support the local economy and local employment in Dunbar.”

The facility is integral to Scotland’s ambitions to deliver a zero waste circular economy, which encourages waste reduction, boosts recycling and recovers vital renewable energy from what remains.

In tandem with Viridor’s investment in a £125m network of recycling-led infrastructure in Scotland, the project will deliver a 300,000 tonnes per annum ERF, which will divert post-recycling ‘residual’ waste from landfill and contribute to Scottish energy security.

The site will generate 30MW of base-load renewable energy direct to the grid: the equivalent of 39 wind turbines, which is enough to power 39,000 homes continuously. The plant will also offer up to 10MW of heat for local use.

Supporting at least 350 jobs during construction, including a range of professional, skilled, entry-level roles and apprenticeships, the project will deliver a range of community benefits focused on employment and training, providing support for local business and education through Viridor’s flagship partnership with the Engineering Development Trust.