Hertfordshire county council looks set to develop an energy-from-waste facility after cutting the shortlist for under its £800 million, 25-year waste PFI contract down to four companies - all of which have based their bids on the treatment technology.

Energy-from-waste is a tried and tested technology 

 
Cllr Derek Ashley, Hertfordshire county council

Under the contract, the successful applicant will be charged with designing, building and operating a 270,000 tonnes-a-year capacity waste treatment facility, which Hertfordshire hopes to have up-and-running by 2015.

The council unveiled a six bidder shortlist in July (see letsrecycle.com story), with all the companies invited to submit outline business cases to the council at the start of October. After viewing the cases, the council's cabinet cut the list to four this week (November 23), with SITA UK and Covanta Energy losing out.

The four remaining bidders are:

• Energy company E.ON Energy from Waste AG (EEW)
• German energy-from-waste specialist MVV Umwelt
• A consortium of waste firm Shanks and American energy-from-waste giant Wheelabrator
• Waste management firm Veolia ES Aurora

Explaining the change of focus to energy-from-waste, councillor Derrick Ashley, executive member for waste, said: "An energy-from-waste plant will enable the recovery of energy from household waste isn't recycled. At the moment in Hertfordshire that's equivalent of two Wembley stadiums full of waste. Rather than rotting in landfill, this waste could supply power and heat to local homes and businesses."

"Energy-from-waste is a tried and tested technology and, as seen in countries such as Germany and Denmark, it is proven to be compatible with high recycling rates."

Technology

The council said it remained technology neutral despite the large presence of energy-from-waste specialists and it had distanced itself from definitively backing the technology during the previous round of bidding.

A site at New Barnfield near Hatfield has been earmarked as the home for the new facility but the council said it would welcome the shortlisted companies to propose whatever technology and site it feels is appropriate.

Cllr Ashley added: "While our priority is to help people to reduce, reuse and recycle more the waste we generate, the reality is that a substantial amount of waste will still need to be disposed of every year.

"Sending this waste to landfill is environmentally damaging and, with rising landfill fines, it will cost the council an estimated £544 million in landfill tax, fines and disposal costs over the next 31 years."

The council expects to announce its final bidder for the long-term deal in 2011.