Plans to build a green waste recycling unit on Green Belt land in Elstree have been submitted to Hertfordshire County Council.

Garry Lewis, waste manager of Reviva Composting, has applied for planning permission to build the facility, which would chip and shred green waste to be used as bio-mass fuel in power plants.But the proposed location of the development, at Edgwarebury House Farm, Elstree Hill South, has caused some residents to worry about the impact it might have on the village.Ann Goddard, press secretary of the Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society, said: "Although we generally feel that this would be a good thing, we are concerned about the increase in traffic as well as the possible rise in noise and pollution for local people."In principle we are in favour of anything that encourages recycling, but we feel it is still a bit too near to a residential area and would not want it to be a blight for residents."The plans predict the site will receive 200 to 250 tonnes of green waste per day, of which 150 tonnes will be processed as bio-fuel with the rest being transported to a composting site at Woodcock Hill Farm, in Elstree, which is also run by Mr Lewis.This would mean around 60 heavy goods vehicles travelling to and from the site on a regular basis, according to the authority's summary of the application.If approved, the recycling unit would operate from 6am to 6pm on Monday to Saturday, with the chippers and shredders working from 8am to 4.30pm between Monday and Friday.Lucy Stone, of Bidwells Faulkner, the agent acting on behalf of Mr Lewis, said: "Currently the site is used as a commercial yard. We have undertaken a transport statement which states there will be less vehicle movement than what is there at the moment."The operation will not be noisier than the noise vehicles create on the road. This is the only unit of its kind in Hertfordshire and it will contribute significantly to the county and national targets for recycling and renewable energy."A decision will be made by the council's planning committee in May, following consultation with Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council and Hertsmere Borough Council.