A COMPANY creating energy from waste aims to deliver 30 North-East jobs in a factory expansion.

Sita UK is increasing the size of its plant in Billingham, near Stockton.

The company has received planning permission to add a new process line, which it says will divert up to 200,000 tonnes of waste from landfill every year and produce 35 megawatts of combined heat and power.

Bosses added the work will generate about 30 full-time positions and support hundreds of construction posts.

The Northern Echo reported in April this year how the firm was looking to grow its presence in the region by adding to its factory, which already uses five processing lines to generate about 55 megawatts of electricity a year from more than 600,000 tonnes of waste.

Annemarie Wilshaw, Sita’ UKs planning manager, said: “This will allow us to increase capacity to meet future demand from homes and businesses and divert even more waste from landfill and put it to better use in the generation of energy.”

The firm has operated in Teesside since 1998, and employs more than 100 workers at its Haverton Hill Road base.

The planning consent comes after Ms Wilshaw previously said it was keen to build on its strong regional presence.

She added: “The Government is committed to ensuring 15 per cent of the UK's energy needs are met from renewable sources by 2020.

“This means recycling and landfill diversion are an increasing priority for local authorities and businesses and new energy-from-waste infrastructure is required if we are to meet our targets.

“The Teesside facilities are already making a valuable contribution to the UK's renewable energy targets, its overall energy security, and supply the National Grid.”

The company works with local authorities across Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool, as well as supporting Northumberland County Council and treating 190,000 tonnes of non-recycled waste every year from Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland City councils.

It is also working with Sembcorp UK on a plant in Wilton, near Redcar, to turn more than 430,000 tonnes of household waste from Merseyside into energy every year.

Bosses say the factory will be operational by 2016 and create about 50 permanent jobs.