Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is the process where plant and animal material (biomass) is converted into useful products by micro-organisms in the absence of air. Biomass is put inside sealed tanks and naturally occurring micro-organisms digest it, releasing methane that can be used to provide heat and power. This means AD can help reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The material left over at the end of the process is rich in nutrients so it can be used as fertiliser.

AD is not a new technology - it has actually been used in the UK since the 1800s - and there are a growing number of AD plants in the UK processing our waste and producing energy.

No. All the traffic which would use the proposed facility already exists and travels on Edinburgh's roads. Viridor will reduce the impact of this traffic by avoiding vehicle movements during rush hours. Instead, the busiest times for deliveries to the site will be 9.00 -11.00 am and 2.00 - 4.00 pm.

Since it ceased to be a rail freight terminal the site has been in use for an HGV and coach park, a waste transfer station (skip yard) and an engineering yard for rail construction. These activities currently generate HGV movements every day.

The proposed facility would operate between 6.00 am and 7.00 pm Monday to Friday and 6.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturdays to ensure that waste generated in homes and businesses can be disposed of quickly and efficiently. It would be closed on Sundays.

In exceptional circumstances the council may require Viridor to open the facility outside these hours but this would be infrequent.