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The reports, written by a consultant brought in to assess the site in 2014 and 2015, warned Wessex Water about safety concerns across parts of the plant, including digesters, gas holders and biogas pipework.

In the past few years, more plastic has been going to incinerators and less food waste - which councils are now sending to anaerobic digesters or to be composted.

And New York State requires large food businesses to donate excess edible food and recycle remaining scraps if they are within 25 miles of a composting facility or anaerobic digester.

Anaerobic digesters, which break down biodegradable materials into energy, have positive effects when it comes to converting agricultural, livestock, food and water waste.

As part of its application in February, it said the mast would "reduce the risk of a lightning strike on the digester tanks and infrastructure at the facility".