FALFIELD could be the site of a major new composting plant to help local councils meet waste disposal targets.

A specialist firm is set to submit an application to South Gloucestershire planners for a fully enclosed "in-vessel" composting facility on a green field site at Henage Farm, on the edge of the village.

The plant could handle up to 50,000 tonnes of household and business waste a year, including food waste, converting it into around 25,000 tonnes of compost for agricultural and horticultural use.

Staff from Dorset-based firm New Earth Solutions will be at a public meeting at Falfield Village Hall next Monday (7.30pm) to address any concerns from the community and answer residents' questions.

Planning manager Brett Spiller said: "We design, build and operate our own facilities so it's in our long term interest to make sure we listen to the local community and provide people with the information they need."

He said the facility would be part of a network of sites which the firm was proposing in the West of England sub region, including South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire.

"There's an identified need for new waste treatment facilities in the area," said Mr Spiller.

The facility would cut carbon emissions by producing waste that could be returned to the ground in a stabilised condition, reducing the need for landfill or the need for other technologies such as incineration.

The rural location was entirely appropriate to the operation, said Mr Spiller.

Buildings would resemble a modern style agricultural enterprise in terms of scale and appearance and the full enclosure and emissions treatment would ensure that smell and noise would not present problems.

"We have been operating a facility like this in Poole for a number of years and our systems have been subject to rigorous testing," he said.

"This is a proven technology and have an open invitation for people to visit the facility to see for themselves and make up their own minds."

The proposals have come to light as composting is set to end at Morton Farm near Thornbury, where green waste recycling has been a source of controversy for the last three years.

Farmer Martin Gill is planning to cease composting operations this March to concentrate on other interests.

"I'm fed up with it and I can earn better money doing other things," said Mr Gill, whose operations sparked complaints of odour nuisance and led to the setting up of a residents' action group.