Campaigners have claimed Irvine's controversial new incinerator plant will see waste brought in by lorryload from across the UK.

Irvine Without Incinerators say the Oldhall plant now under construction will see an increase road traffic and airline toxins and contribute to the climate crisis.

But the developers behind the plant, Doveryard Ltd, have hit back, claiming: "This is a safe and environmentally preferable way of dealing with waste which would otherwise go to landfill or be transported abroad."

Oldhall Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) is expected to eventually employ around 200 people.

In a press statement this week, Irvine Without Incinerators said: "Research shows that most of the waste needed to run the plant will be brought in from elsewhere.

"In addition to worsening the Climate Crisis by creating more greenhouse gases than a conventional fossil fuel  power plant, this new incinerator will also add to an increase in traffic, not just here but across the whole country.

"Waste from North Ayrshire is driven to Lanarkshire and then across Scotland to be incinerated in East Lothian.

"Meanwhile, local residents endure a lot more road traffic, are exposed to  airborne toxins; and contribute to the climate crisis because other waste is brought here to be burnt."

They added: "The incinerator is intended to burn the waste from all household bins. It can handle 180,000 tonnes per year.

"North Ayrshire Council, which collects 50,000 tonnes per year, is tied into the 25 year Clyde Valley Residual Waste Contract, transporting our waste across Scotland to pollute the atmosphere, and make electricity, in Dunbar.

"NAC has told  Irvine Without Incinerators clearly that there are no plans to supply the waste and no contract to do so. Which begs the question, what will the incinerator be burning and where from?

"As local waste will continue to be shipped out and other waste will also be shipped in, local HGV miles will be increased."

They claimed: "The reasons for the local unpopularity of this plant are that incineration has various unwelcome side effects including emisson of toxins harmful to life; release of large amounts of greenhouse gases; as well as driving down recycling rates; and wasting potentially useful resources.

"Local residents are particulalry worried that already high rates of serious respiratory problems will be exacerbated."

Local resident Ian Wallace added: "There is a current Scottish Governement moratorium against the building of any new incinerators as there are already too many.

"This tells us that there is  a danger of  running short of 'fuel' and that provides a strong motive to import waste from other parts of the UK for burning in Ayrshire.

"Not only are we exposed to toxins, they aren't even our own toxins."

But a spokesperson for Doveryard Ltd said: “The Oldhall Energy Recovery Facility is not dependent on the Clyde Valley Residual Waste Contract for its supplies as there is plenty of other waste in the local area.

"It will process non hazardous private sector and commercial waste produced by businesses in North Ayrshire and the outlying districts after all recycling has taken place.

"This waste will be collected by Enva, Lowmac and Geminor which are each based locally, with transfer stations to aggregate waste from the vicinity.

"The waste will be supplied as post-recycled fuel to be used in the state-of-the-art energy recovery boiler at Oldhall.

"It is anticipated that there will be up to 34 heavy goods vehicle (HGVs) movements per day, which is a negligible increase in traffic given the previous use of the site.

"This is a safe and environmentally preferable way of dealing with waste which would otherwise go to landfill or be transported abroad."