The Environmental Services Association has described environment secretary Caroline Spelmans decision to withhold PFI credits for the proposed Norfolk energy-from-waste plant as deeply misguided.
Caroline Spelman wrote to Norfolk leader Derrick Murphy on 7 November 2011 stating that she was not in a position to confirm the provision of the credits for the EfW plant (see letsrecycle.com story). Mrs Spelman stated that she was concerned by the large volume of objections to the project.
But, Norfolk county council warned that the move would send shivers down the spine of other local authorities with major waste treatment proposals in the pipeline.
Now the ESA, which is the trade association for the waste management sector, has also expressed strong concerns.
Matthew Farrow, director of policy at ESA, said: We all know that no major infrastructure project ever gets universal public support, but waste management companies need to feel confident that if a development is part of a coherent waste management strategy agreed by a local authority, uses technology approved by the regulators and can meet planning requirements then it will be able to proceed.
If firms dont have this confidence then the Governments intention to divert waste out of landfill starts to look far-fetched,” he added.
CIWM
The Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) also said it was worried about the delay and described the decision as surprising and unwelcome. However it claimed that this may be a final check in the process. If it is not it said it could pose a problem for future PFI-funded projects.
Steve Lee, chief executive of CIWM, said: We suspect that the secretary of state thinks there are special circumstances to the Norfolk proposal. CIWM worries that once such a special case is provided for more will surely follow creating a never ending loop of appeals.
Inconsistency
Both parties claimed there was inconsistency across the governments departments, particularly the ESA, which noted the recent speech by the prime minister urging the need to get infrastructure projects moving. The government is trying to have it both ways, said Mr Farrow. At a time when banks will only finance waste management projects where the risks are manageable, this decision could have damaging and far-reaching implications, he added.
If the government are serious about green growth energy and a more sustainable future they must show consistent cross departmental support, said Mr Lee.
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