PLANS have been drawn up for three centres that could recycle food waste from all homes in Oxfordshire from next year.

Recycling company Agrivert has submitted a £6m scheme to build a plant on Green Belt land at Cassington, near Yarnton. A food waste plant near Ardley – also costing £6m – would serve the north of the county under the plan. It is proposed both facilities could be operating by next autumn.

A third £6m unit between Wallingford and Benson, to serve south Oxfordshire, would follow in 2010.

Agrivert wants to create a pioneering anaerobic digestion facility at Worton Farm, Cassington, which would turn up to 26,000 tonnes of food waste into electricity and compost.

The technology uses food waste and silage to produce methane which in turn is used to generate electricity.As well as saving food from being buried in landfill, the company said anaerobic digestion could eventually produce enough electricity to supply 10 per cent of all households in Oxford.

Agrivert marketing director, Harry Waters, said: “What we are proposing is pioneering. Using anaerobic digestion on this scale has never been attempted. It will be the first plant of its kind to operate at county level.”

Officers will recommend the planning application is approved when it goes to the county council’s planning and regulation committee on Monday.

A report by head of sustainable development Chris Cousins said the development on a Green Belt site was justified by the need to meet recycling targets.

It added: “Potential local impacts such as smell would not be significant and could be adequately mitigated against and controlled. The locational benefits and the limited visual harm to the Green Belt constitute very special circumstances for allowing this development in the Green Belt.”

The county council invited bids from companies to treat food waste last year. The council said a decision was yet to be made about who would be the preferred bidder.

A planning application to create what would be Oxford’s second Anaerobic Digestion plant, on farmland off the A4074 between Benson to Wallingford Road, will be submitted next year.

It is understood if Agrivert wins the contract it would build and operate the three facilities, with the county council paying fees for the waste delivered from homes.

The county council said it was still determined to stick to its plans to see food waste recycled by the spring. The company that secures the contract would be expected to make arrangements for food waste while the plants in Oxfordshire are being built.

The composting centre at Ardley would be close to the site where a waste incinerator is being proposed in a separate scheme.