News in Brief

Peel wins approval for Cheshire wood-to-energy plant

The facility will utilise 175,000 tonnes of waste wood a year, generating 20 megawatts of energy for use by local industry. It represents a key part of the Ince Park project, which is a joint venture between Peel Energys Manchester-based parent company Peel Environmental and US-based energy-from-waste specialists Covanta Energy (see letsrecycle.com story). As part of the project Covanta are planning to build a 600,000 tonne-a-year capacity merchant energy-from-waste facility, which received planning permission in August 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Jon Burley of Peel Energy said, We would like to thank the council for giving the plans a fair hearing. We realise that applications like these are not easy. However, these are exactly the kind of decisions that are required if the UK is to meet its renewable energy targets and avoid valuable resources going into landfill. We are very pleased with the outcome and look forward to taking the project on to the next stage, ultimately delivering renewable energy and jobs for the region. We are also keen to continue our dialogue with community groups via the Ince Park Community Forum as we have done throughout the application process.

Bioflame creditors to meet to appoint liquidator

The creditors of Bioflame have been invited to attend a meeting at the Leeds offices of business administration specialists Begbies Traynor today (September 23) which could see the Yorkshire based waste-to-energy company enter liquidation.

A notice published on insolvency journal the London Gazette states that: The purpose of the meeting, pursuant to Sections 99 to 101 of the [Insolvency] Act is to consider the statement of affairs and of the Company to be laid before the meeting, to appoint a liquidator and, if the creditors think fit, to appoint a liquidation committee. letsrecycle.com was unable to contact Bioflame, and Begbies Traynor were unavailable for comment at time of publication. Last December, venture capital fund Novusmodus said it was investing up to 4.5 million in Bioflame, but, speaking to letsrecycle.com yesterday (September 22), a spokesman for the fund said that it invested 3 million but chosen not to take up its option on investing a further 1.5 million because the company was going to require more money than that.

Last October, construction work began on a joint venture between Bioflame and wood recycling firm Growing Beds to develop a 9 million waste wood-to-energy plant at Thurleigh in Bedfordshire (see letsrecycle.com story). A spokesman for Growing Beds was unavailable for comment at time of publication.

May Gurney confirmed as first choice for Cheshire deal

Services company May Gurney was this week (September 21) confirmed as preferred bidder for Cheshire West and Chester councils 126 million waste and recycling collection contract.

The company was originally named as provisional preferred bidder for the 14-year contract in August 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story), ahead of Biffa, which was the other remaining bidder in the procurement process. The deal, which has the option for a seven year extension, is set to begin in April 2012 and will involve May Gurney introducing a harmonised waste and recycling service for the 147,000 households in the area that were brought together when Cheshire West and Chester (CWaC) council was created as a new unitary authority in April 2009. It also cover bring banks; processing of food and garden waste; sale of recyclables; cost of replacement containers; bulky waste collection; and, provision of bulking sites, vehicles and plant.

According to May Gurney, the contract will reduce the councils waste costs by at least 15% – 1.58 million a year. Philip Fellowes-Prynne, chief executive of May Gurney, said: May Gurney continues to consolidate its position as one of the UK’s leading providers of front-line services in the municipal waste market. This new contract supports CWaCs commitment to delivering higher recycling rates, improved customer service and value for money. Our proven expertise in developing and delivering bespoke front-line service solutions and supporting our clients’ efficiency goals underpins our continued growth.

Double contract success in South of England for Veolia

Waste management company Veolia has achieved contract successes that will see it continue to deliver waste and recycling services for two councils in the South of England.

In London, the firm has secured a seven year contract extension for its waste management deal in Lambeth, while in Essex, it has been re-awarded Tendring district councils integrated waste collections and street cleansing contract. The Lambeth deal means Veolia will now run the service until 2021, having previously been awarded a seven year contract, with an option for the seven year extension, in 2007. In the past year, Veolia has introduced the US-devised recycling rewards scheme RecycleBank for Lambeths householders (see letsrecycle.com story), as well as making recycling compulsory in April 2011. In Tendring, the company has secured a new seven year deal which has the option for a further seven year extension. Here, Veolia will continue to offer weekly residual waste collections and collect dry recyclables on a fortnightly basis, as well as introducing weekly food waste collections.

According to Tendring council, the new deal will save it 563,000-a-year, and the councils cabinet member for the environment, Nick Turner, said: We have come up with an improved service, with significant savings which also encourages people to be more environmentally friendly. It totally fits with our ambition to deliver more for less resulting in affordable, excellent services across the entire district wherever possible.

ECO Plastics and Coca Cola move forward with joint venture

Plastics recycling company ECO Plastics and soft drinks giant Coca Cola Enterprises have this week(September 21) announced that work has begun on the plastics recycling facility they are developing under a joint venture.

The two companies have also revealed the name of the business formed under the joint venture, which will be known as Continuum Recycling Limited. The project involves the development of processing capacity that will more than double the amount of bottle-grade recycled PET plastic produced at ECOs facility at Hemswell in Lincolnshire. Coca Cola will then use this material to meet its target of including 25% recycled PET in all its plastics packaging by 2012. The partnership between the two companies was originally announced in March 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story), while last month ECO revealed it had secured the 24 million needed to fund the expansion plans (see letsrecycle.com story).

Planning permission was secured for the project in May 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story) and ECO today said that, since then, work on the project had advanced rapidly and ground works, foundations and a new road have all already been completed. Jonathan Short, managing director of ECO Plastics, said: Todays news is important because it demonstrates again our commitment and progress towards realising what will be a revolutionary project for the British recycling and beverage industries. Im delighted that we are on track to deliver against the ambitious project timetable.