THE company behind plans to scrap a rusting fleet of former US Navy ships last night unveiled a scheme to revamp its landfill waste facility.

Able UK said its landfill site at Seaton Meadows, near Hartlepool, would be further developed at a cost of £1.2m.

It would be capable of converting hazardous waste into "concrete blocks" of stable non-reactive material, which could then be safely disposed of.

The scheme, involving the conversion of existing buildings, had full planning permission, the company said. It would create 30 construction jobs and 12 long-term posts, it added.

A spokesman for Able said the facility would meet the requirements of the EU landfill directive without the requirement to apply for the new permits.

Environmental waste manager Ian Fenny said: "The facility will have a pre-treatment consolidation/solidification plant that will turn hazardous waste into a stable, non-reactive material that will be disposed of in purpose- built cells.

"These cells will be separate from bio-degradable waste, making it possible to dispose of the stabilised hazardous waste without breaking the new requirements on co-disposal of waste."

Able plans to use Seaton Meadows to dispose of the remnants of the controversial "ghost ships" if the deal to break up the ships finally gets the go-ahead.