HOUSEHOLD rubbish is being converted into enough electricity to power thousands of homes at a new "green" North Yorkshire waste site.

The site, at the Allerton Park landfill facility, just off the A1, near Knaresborough, is now working.

It converts methane gas from the 170,000 tonnes of rubbish dumped at the site each year into electricity.

About 2,000 homes could have their power needs supplied by energy produced at the site.

Paul Tomes, managing director of the Waste Recycling Group, which runs the site, said today: "This plant is doing two things. It is reducing the impact of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and it is contributing to the Government's drive to reduce dependence on fossil fuels."

The Government is aiming for five per cent of all UK electricity needs to be met by renewable resources by the end of this year, and up to ten per cent by 2010.

Mr Tomes added: "Our approach at Waste Recycling is to look at waste as a potential resource that has a value, rather than simply viewing it as a disposal problem. Creating electricity from waste is a good example of how the waste management industry can play its part in protecting our environment."

Maureen Madden, clerk to Allerton and Mauleverer parish meeting, said: "We have not heard anything about this, but would certainly be interested to know more. It will be on the agenda at the next parish meeting."

Mark Hill, Green Party co-ordinator for Yorkshire, said: "Our view is that this is not ideal. We would much rather see more work done to improve our chronically-low recycling and composting rates."

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, January 04, 2003