A waste management business has unveiled plans to transform landfills at its site in Wiltshire into a food production centre, which could create up to 130 jobs.
Crapper and Sons is proposing to use methane generated by its landfill site in Royal Wootton Bassett to power and heat inflatable greenhouses, which it said could be used to produce fruit and vegetables for the local community.
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The family-run business said the “world-first” innovation would provide the “perfect growing temperature” for horticulture throughout the year, with the flexible greenhouses designed to flex with the movement of the landfill as it settles. The firm said the ripening of produce could be aided by ultraviolet lighting, and could be accelerated or slowed down to meet local demand.
Crapper and Sons said its initiative, known as Sustain, could allow for the growing season to be extended, enabling year-round harvesting of crops which otherwise would be imported from abroad. The company said it was aiming for the proposed development at its Brinkworth Road base to supply 80% of all fruit and vegetables for Wiltshire residents in Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury, Purton and Brinkworth.
Bosses at the firm said that its “radical new development”, would be owned and operated by a community interest company, which could return profit to the local area in the form of grants for community projects.
Managing director Richard Crapper said: “All this is possible within the footprint of our existing site, but the really exciting part is that this solution has the potential to be replicated across the country, addressing the unsustainable practice of importing out-of-season produce from all over the world.
“Adopted nationwide, our ‘Super-Midden’ solution could alleviate food shortages, provide cheap power to local communities and help to address the cost-of-living crisis, all by generating affordable, freshly harvested, non-warehoused produce at a lower cost than the major supermarkets.”
Full details of the proposed plans for the development are set to be shared at two public consultation events in Royal Wootton Bassett in December.
Crapper and Sons has been operating a landfill at Park Grounds in Royal Wootton Bassett, near Swindon, since 1985.
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