Plans for a new recycling plant in north Shropshire could see up to 80,000 tonnes of waste recycled each year and several jobs created locally.

A planning application for the waste treatment site at Warrant Hangar, Ternhill, near Market Drayton, outlines proposals for a plant which would import up to 450 tonnes of waste each day.

Rubble and building waste, tree and hedge cuttings and plastic and glass would be turned into building materials and products.

Andrew Richards, from AR Richards Ltd, the company behind the project, said the site would create five jobs initially, with the promise of more employment as work progressed.

He said 80 per cent of waste taken to the site would be recycled, saving about 80,000 tonnes of rubbish from north Shropshire going into landfill sites or being incinerated each year.

Among products created from the waste would be woodchip, topsoil and compost and glass, and other building aggregates to be sold locally.

Waste would be collected from businesses and some households to encourage more people to recycle.

Mr Richards also suggested the company would look into providing training opportunities.

He said a vehicle would collect waste for recycling, and this would minimise fuel consumption and pollution as it would cut the number of cars delivering items for recycling.

“There’s a big need for a recycling plant in Market Drayton,” he added.

The planning application is due to be considered by Shropshire County Council’s planning committee.