A £3 MILLION state-of-the art waste water treatment plant has been hailed as "potentially an important step forward" in attempts to restore salmon stocks in the River Ouse.

The new plant at Selby's Hazlewood Grocery began operating in January and was designed to meet stringent new Environment Agency (EA) limits on effluent released into the waterway.

The company, part of the Greencore Group, which is now vying for the Best Environmental Company in this year's Evening Press Business of the Year Awards, manufactures sauces, pickles, drinks, dips and marinades.

It is authorised to release waste water into the Ouse, once it has been treated as part of the production process. Strict new targets required more than a threefold improvement in the quality of water released into the river by 2004.

Stephen Gagg, environment manager, said the existing set-up could not meet the new targets.

Hazlewood Grocery, together with United Utilities - the operator of the on-site treatment plant - concluded that significant investment was required.

United Utilities was awarded the contract to design, build and operate the new plant, which is now capable of treating more than 4,800 cubic metres per day - more than ten Olympic-sized pools of water a week.

In response to the new plant, the EA has said it "could contribute towards the significant improvement in the water quality of the tidal Ouse and is potentially an important step forward in our attempt to restore salmon stocks".

As a result of the plant, less waste needs to be removed from the site by road, meaning there are fewer vehicle movements and reduced emissions to the atmosphere.

More than 5,000 native trees are being planted around the Selby site.

The new plant has provided Hazlewood Grocery with a chance to review the whole waste management processes on the site and to identify cost-save opportunities.

Updated: 11:34 Wednesday, September 22, 2004