Letter: Opportunity on landfill wasted

THE nuisance suffered by residents affected by the West Carron landfill tip (News, 1 August) is a typical result of Scotland ignoring the benefits of the gasification process for destroying domestic waste.

In addition to reducing the need for landfill sites, gasification plants also generate electricity. UK gasification plants already in operation at Teesside, Lancashire and Lincolnshire destroy millions of tons of domestic waste and between them generate 1,900 megawatts of electricity, roughly enough to continuously supply 1,200 homes.

The gasification process also eliminates all by-products, including CO2, and at around 200m per plant they are a realistic alternative to nuclear energy.

Malcolm Parkin, Kinross