The Yorkshire-based company was named in April as the preferred bidder to treat Bradford’s 150,000 tonnes of waste per year at its £17.5 million waste facility in Stourton, south Leeds.
The Stourton facility will be used to separate recyclables and prepare waste for energy recovery.
Ferrybridge
Under the contract, a significant portion of Bradford’s waste will be sent to the Ferrybridge energy from waste facility in West Yorkshire, which is currently being developed by Multifuel Energy – a joint venture between energy firm SSE and Wheelabrator Technologies.
“The proposal will provide a fully integrated solution for Bradford’s residual waste, incorporating the latest environmentally-friendly technology to recover recyclables from the waste stream and recover energy by generating electricity using the remaining waste,” the council has said.
The energy generated by Bradford’s waste will be fed into the power grid – which could power about 28,000 homes.
Landfill
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford council’s executive member for environment and sport, said: “We are delighted to be signing this contract with Associated Waste Management. This solution will secure a method of treating the residual waste from Bradford for the next 12 years with an option for a further three years.
“The process will lead to an increase in recycling rates as well as a high level of diversion from landfill.”
Steve Hartley, Bradford council’s strategic director of place said: “The constantly increasing cost of landfill tax and the harm to the environment by landfilling wastes means that this contract will offer both a more sustainable solution, with demonstrable environmental and climate change benefits, as well as being more cost-effective.”
Tim Shapcott who led the AWM bid team, along with advisors Craig Pember of Roamine Advisory, Ben Sheppard of Walker Morris and Ruth Hann of PWC said: “Signing this contract demonstrates our dedication to provide Bradford Council with a market leading solution to treating the district’s waste.
“Our purpose-built facility, designed and project managed by John Brooksbank (MD) is already delivering sustainable waste solutions. On behalf of the whole team at AWM, John is delighted to be signing the contract and continuing our relationship with Bradford.”
Bradford tendered for the contract in 2015, after plans to build an EfW facility on a site at Bowling Back Lane were abandoned. The project had previously been awarded £62 million in PFI credits by the government, with a consortium led by Skanska appointed to lead the project. But in 2013, the department withdrew its support.
In 2015/16 the council sent close to 17% (39,150 tonnes) of its waste to landfill, whilst 40.5% was sent for energy recovery.
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