AN INTERNATIONAL waste firm yesterday promised to return its Sutton Courtenay landfill site to farming land within 20 years.

But it wants to expand the site further in the short term.

FCC Environment, formerly the Waste Recycling Group (WRG), said it would leave the site, off the B4016, by 2030.

However it currently wants to build an anaerobic digester to create eco-power from crops.

That would power its landfill works on the site and create fertiliser to restore the land, it said. An application will be submitted next month.

A previous plan was withdrawn in May as Vale of White Horse District Council had landscape concerns.

The firm also wants to create a soil treatment centre to prepare earth for filling in the site.

And it plans to create a depot for about 15 vehicles so that more industrial and commercial waste can be collected to fill the site.

Planning applications are expected in September.

Paul Marsh, regional estates manager, said: “The entire strategy is designed simply with the aim of delivering restoration in 2030.”

FCC staff will be holding two public exhibitions over the next fortnight to explain its plans.

A display of its long term plans will take place at Sutton Courtenay Village Hall today from 2pm to 8pm and again tomorrow at Appleford Village Hall from 2pm to 8pm.

An exhibition of the latest anaerobic digester plans will take place next Wednesday from 2pm to 8pm in Sutton Courtenay Village Hall and again next Thursday at Appleford Village Hall between 2pm and 8pm.