Cory and Wheelabrator to exhibit Norfolk EfW plans

The consortium seeking to develop a 268,000 tonnes-a-year capacity energy-from-waste incinerator to deliver a PFI contract for the treatment of Norfolk county council's residual waste is set to hold a series of public exhibitions in the New Year to outline its proposals.

The partnership of waste management firm Cory Environmental and American incineration specialist Wheelabrator Technologies emerged as frontrunner for the multi-million pound deal at the end of October before being formally named preferred bidder last month (see letsrecycle.com story).

And, starting in mid-January, the consortium will now exhibit their project plans for public scrutiny at a series of events across the county. The exhibitions are intended to give members of the public an opportunity to discuss the proposal with representatives of the two firms.

The consortium is intending to develop a large-scale energy-from-waste incinerator with combined heat and power, to be known as the Willows Power & Recycling Centre, at the Willows Business Park at Saddlebow, near King's Lynn.

The facility is expected to receive 170,000 tonnes of its annual capacity from residual, household waste under the PFI contract – with the remainder being drawn from the local commercial and business sectors.

At the site, the consortium has also pledged to recover around 5,000 tonnes of metals each year and produce around 50,000 tonnes per annum of recycled aggregates, which will offer an alternative to the aggregates dug out of quarries.

Spokesman for the consortium, Richard Wilkinson said: “Following our appointment as the council's preferred bidder, we are looking forward to presenting our solution for Norfolk's residual waste and introducing ourselves to the community.

“We are fully aware of the issues being raised with regard to the proposal and in the New Year we will be seeking to answer these at our public exhibitions. We hope that this will help to set the record straight and allay the concerns that have been expressed about our plans.”

Cllr Ann Steward, cabinet member for sustainable development at Norfolk county council, said: “I am glad that the people of Norfolk are now able to hear the facts of the matter direct from the consortium selected as preferred bidder to build this proposed plant. I welcome the extensive efforts they are making to give people the information they need about what is actually being proposed, so they can come to an informed view.”

The exhibitions will be held on:

• Friday 14 January, 12pm – 8pm, The Duke's Head Hotel, King's Lynn
• Saturday 15 January, 10am – 4pm, The Duke's Head Hotel, King's Lynn
• Friday 28 January, 9am – 4pm, Town Hall, Downham Market
• Thursday 3 February, 12pm – 8pm, Parish Church, Fakenham
• Saturday 5 February, 9am – 4pm, The Assembly Rooms, Swaffham
• Thursday 10 February, 10am – 5pm, Library, Wisbech