A South London incinerator has blamed laughing gas bottles for a series of emissions breaches this year.

It is now using artificial intelligence scanners to detect the bottles.

The Beddington Energy Recovery Facility burns waste from Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston – all members of the South London Waste Partnership (SLWP).

Representatives from the four councils heard updates on the waste contract, which is run by Veolia, and about the incinerator, which is run by Viridor.

In May and June the incinerator breached its emissions permit six times. Viridor has blamed gas bottles for some of the incidents as if they going through the facility which, if they explode, can result in a spike in emissions.

Andrea Keys, partnership director of the SLWP told Wednesday (September 29) nights meeting staff have received training to check whether the gas bottles are in rubbish and artificial intelligence technology to detect the waste is being trialled.

Sutton councillor, Luke Taylor, asked what was being done to “address the gas bottle problem” and inform residents how to dispose of the bottles.

Ms Keys said: “In terms of the approach we are taking it is important that we target it at every single point we can.

"It is important to talk to residents and commercial customers as well and make it clear where these gas bottles should go, traditionally you’d have a retailer take back but online purchasing creates this whole new challenge.”

John Hayes, in charge of communications for the partnership, added: “In terms of lobbying we’ve approached the British Compressed Gas Association, they have a campaign and are lobbying the government for a ban on sales of nitrous oxide cannisters, which is something we would support.”

The incinerator is monitored and regulated by the Environment Agency which has set strict emissions limits it must stick to.

Tests are done every 10 seconds and used to calculate daily averages.

In July the SLWP wrote to Viridor with concerns about the “relatively high” number of breaches.

Since then it has worked on a rectification plan to keep the facility in line with its licence.