Prosiect Gwyrdd is a consortium set up by five South East Wales local authorities (Newport, Cardiff, The Vale, Caerphilly and Monmouthshire) to procure long-term residual waste treatment capacity. The 25-year deal will cover the treatment of around 180,000 tonnes of residual waste a year and will be worth in the region of 1.1 billion.
However, last month, US incineration specialist Covanta pulled out of the running for the deal, seven months after waste management company WRG also pulled out (see letsrecycle.com story).
And, in her letter to the minister, sent yesterday (November 15), Ms Parrott suggested the project was falling apart. Ms Parrott objects to the incineration technology being proposed by the final two bidders for the deal, Veolia and Viridor. She representsSouth Wales Central,where Viridor is proposing to build its plant at Trident Park, Splott.
She said Today I met with protestors from Splott and Barry as well as from across South Wales who came to the Assembly to voice their opposition towards the building of incinerators as part of the Government’s Prosiect Gwyrdd. Councillors and activists from all four parties are now actively campaigning against individual plans and it is clear that the policy as it is cannot survive.
I have called on the Minister to review the most recent evidence and consider more environmentally responsible alternatives to incineration. Technologies such as MBT (Mechanical Biological Treatment) are being proven to offer cleaner solutions to the problem of waste management.
On track
However, speaking to letsrecycle.com today (November 16), a spokesman for Prosiect Gwyrdd dismissed suggestions that the project was unravelling andsaid it was still firmly on track.
He said: One of our three final bidders withdrew two months before we were going to cut down our shortlist anyway. So in terms of the procurement it has not changed anything.
The spokesman added that any waste facility would be unpopular wherever it was sited, but everyone produced waste and it needed to be dealt with sustainably. He also said that councils needed to meet legally binding targets set by the Welsh Assembly Government to recycle 70% of their waste by 2025 with no more than 5% going to landfill.
Viridors proposed incinerator at Trident Park will be a merchant facility capable of treating 350,000 tonnes of waste a year. The facility already has an environmental permit and planning permission (see letsrecycle.com story). Meanwhile, Veolia is proposing a 250,000 tonne-a-year capacity incinerator at Llanwern in Newport.
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Commenting on the choice of incineration, the Prosiect Gwyrdd spokesman said: We are technology neutral and these are the solutions presented to us by the market. There was nothing stopping an MBT or autoclave provider from bidding.
The Welsh Government is offering to pay 25% of the gate fee as a subsidy to the contract, which will equate to around 9.2 million a year. Prosiect Gwyrdd hopes to award the contract in Autumn 2012.
Welsh Government
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “Decision making for Prosiect Gwyrdd rests with local authorities and it is up to them to decide what technology is most appropriate for their community. The Environment Agency is responsible for granting environmental permits, including for energy from waste plants, and they ensure that facilities meet the highest and most stringent environmental and safety regulations – including all European legislation – before granting these permits. “
The spokeswoman added that Mr Griffiths was already planning to visit New Earth Solutions’ Avonmouth MBT in a a couple of week’s time – something Ms Parrott had suggested as important to make him aware of the alternatives to incineration.
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