Cambridgeshire could take sites by force for recycling

Under plans given the green light by the county council's cabinet last week, the county believes it will need to spend 6.4 million to purchase the sites it needs.

The council's cabinet endorsed the use of Compulsory Purchase Order processes if severe difficulties are encountered in buying the sites.

The drastic action is being taken because the county is facing dual pressures from a rising population and also the requirements of the forthcoming Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (see letsrecycle.com report).

Under the Scheme, which begins to clamp down on the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste from April next year, Cambridgeshire said it needs to reduce the proportion of its household waste going to landfill from 72% to about 13% by 2020.

PFI contract
As part of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership, the county is seeking 40 million in assistance from the government's Private Finance Initiative for a new 25-year waste management contract (see letsrecycle.com story). But, the PFI credits will not be used to cover land acquisition costs, council officers said.

In the report approved by the council cabinet on Tuesday, officers said: “Suitable sites for new waste management facilities will be critical to the success of both the strategy and the PFI procurement.”

If the council can secure sites for new recycling plants, officers believe there will be more interest from waste management companies in bidding for the contract tender. And, they said council-owned land would provide more value for money and flexibility in the 25-year contract.

Cllr Shona Johnstone, cabinet member for environment, said: “I don't like using compulsory purchase powers, they would be a very last resort.”

Among the sites required are a four to six hectare site for a major plant treating up to 160,000 tonnes of household waste each year. This site could cost 3 million alone to buy. The council also needs two new household waste recycling centres and three replacement centres, each needing sites of about one hectare in size.

The National Farmers' Union has said they could step in to help farmers served with a Compulsory Purchase Order for their land.