Drax Power Station (pictured) this week unveiled £50 million blueprints to build the biggest global biomass processing plant on the planet.

And, in a double boost, Mytum and Selby's bid to create a £30 million South Milford recycling centre has also been green lighted to promise 50 jobs.

MP John Grogan said: "The news is a fantastic green boost for the area.
"Drax's exciting partnership initiative reinforces its position as a leader in clean co-firing to reduce CO2 emissions. I'm sure this will be welcomed by staff and residents.

"Mytum and Selby is a company long used to dealing with waste in Selby district. This major investment will help them do it in a greener and more environmentally-friendly way."

Drax's ground-breaking upgrade will annually receive, process and burn 1.5 million tonnes of green materials with coal to cut the controversial plant's carbon footprint by 15 per cent.

Company chief executive Dorothy Thompson said: "This deal represents a major milestone in the execution of our co-firing project.

"We're only too well aware of the need to tackle climate change. We firmly believe we're part of the solution."

High-tech equipment will be built by leading power generator Alstom, with the first phase due for completion next year.

Mytum and Selby has been granted a certificate of lawful use by North Yorkshire County Council chiefs to create a composting and recycling centre at the former John Smiths brewery site.

Company managing director Steve Carrie said: "We've been proud to treat household and business waste across South Milford, Sherburn and Monk Fryston for more than 20 years.

"The Maltings site marks the culmination of a long-period of investment in the area to ensure we're at the forefront of environmentally-responsible waste management."

Contractors are currently converting existing buildings and machinery to process local food waste and other organic material into compost for agricultural use.