Agrivert favoured for Mid-Wales food waste deal

The Partnership, a joint venture between Ceredigion and Powys county councils, hopes to sign the 15-year contract with Agrivert in May 2012 with services due to commence in November 2012.

The contract will see the Oxfordshire-based firm treat up to 10,000 tonnes of food waste every year from both households and businesses in central Wales. Treatment of the food waste through anaerobic digestion (AD) is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 850 homes.

Alexander Maddan, Agriverts chief executive, said: During the dialogue process, Agrivert have developed an excellent working relationship with Ceredigion and Powys and we look forward to cementing this relationship and driving up recycling rates over the period of the contract.

Treatment

Initially the food waste will be treated at Agriverts existing AD facility in Cassington, Oxfordshire however the Partnership said Agrivert had aspirations to build a facility locally, although this wasnt evaluated as part of the procurement process.

Once collected, the food waste will be transported from the councils depots by Welsh hauliers Mansel Davies & Sons who will deliver it to Agrivert for treatment.

Mansel Davies & Sons already works with Agrivert and Ceredigion on other contracts and will extend its working relationship to Powys as the CWWP food waste contract progresses.

At present food waste is collected weekly across both councils. Powys is in the process of rolling out a new source separated system in boroughs across the county which includes food waste.

Funding

The procurement process has taken less than two years to complete and has been fully funded by the Welsh Government as part of its Waste Infrastructure Procurement Programme (see letsrecycle.com story).

The CWWP said it is preparing a business case for submission to the Welsh Government to secure further funding for its food waste project over the lifetime of the contract.

Wales

The announcement by the Central Waste Wales partnership comes just a week after Gwynedd council in Wales appointed BiogenGreenfinch as preferred bidder for the development and operation of an 11,000 tonne-a-year AD facility in Llwyn Isaf, North West Wales and just a few days after Shanks submitted plans for 90,000 tonne-a-year AD plant in Torfaen (see letsrecycle.com story).