The council is particularly investigating mechanical biological treatment – the combination of shredding, separation and biological action on mixed waste – and incineration.
” Since the financial implications are so great, it is essential that we make the right decision. “
– Cllr Rodney Royston, Buckinghamshire CC
Officers believe a single plant costing between 50m and 90m could be built, running up operating costs of between 10m and 15m every year.
But these costs would be preferable to the rising Landfill Tax and any potential fines imposed on Buckinghamshire by Defra if it misses its annual landfill limits under the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme.
Under the scheme, Buckinghamshire's landfill limit for 2005/06, of 133,183 tonnes of biodegradable waste, must fall to just over 100,000 tonnes by 2010 and then under 50,000 tonnes ten years later.
Waste disposal authorities in England face fines of 150 for every tonne of biodegradable waste they send to landfill above their annual limits.
Based on estimates of waste arisings in 2020, Buckinghamshire county council believes it would need to build a treatment plant capable of processing around 193,000 tonnes of residual waste each year. This could be developed as part of a long-term contract to run from around 2013/14 to beyond 2020.
Visits
Buckinghamshire county council representatives have already visited waste treatment facilities in mainland Europe to determine possibilities for Buckinghamshire.
An in-depth report on the two different waste treatment technologies is to be prepared for the county council's cabinet for a decision on the way forward expected on January 15.
The report will include an assessment of environmental impacts, transportation requirements, capacity and the potential for funding success.
Cllr Rodney Royston, cabinet member with responsibility for waste, said: “Doing nothing is not an option. We need to examine in depth two technologies that would enable us to overcome this problem. Since the financial implications are so great, it is essential that we make the right decision. The solution, when we have found it, will also be better for the environment.”
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Buckinghamshire is putting the finishing touches to its joint waste strategy, working with the county's four district councils, which is to be adopted early next year. A public consultation on the strategy held in January saw 83% of respondents in favour of using “proven” technologies.
At the moment some 275,000 tonnes of household waste is generated in Buckinghamshire every year, with 64% going to landfill.
As well as building new facilities to handle the county's residual waste, the strategy aims to increase household recycling rates in the county from the current 30% rate to more than 45% by 2010.
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