News in brief

Work starts next month on Milton Keynes waste park

The first stage of developing the facility will take place next month on June 9, when existing buildings on the Dickens Road site will being to be demolished a process expected to take three months.

Gasification technology firm Energos will develop the 90,000 tonnes-per-year capacity non-recyclable waste facility at the park, which will generate 7MW of electricity enough to power 11,000 homes.

The gasification plant is part of a three-step waste treatment process at the park, which also includes the extraction of recyclable material via mechanical treatment by Stadler and an anaerobic digester (AD) operated by Celtic Bioenergy.

AmeyCespa signed the contract for the development with Milton Keynes council in June 2013 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Paul Greenwell, Managing Director of AmeyCespa, said: The facility will make a huge difference to the amount of household waste being landfilled in the borough, as well as increasing recycling and generating enough electricity to power 11,000 homes each year. I look forward to seeing it take shape over the coming months.

WRAP launches 800k local waste prevention fund

Grants of up to 50,000 are available to local businesses, councils, charities and voluntary groups as part of the 800,000 Innovation in Waste Prevention Fund managed by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Launched today (May 27), the fund is open to applications from two or more parties working together, and will support local level creative ideas for preventing waste of priority materials such as food, textiles, furniture, WEEE, plastics, paper, construction and demolition, healthcare and chemicals. Recycling or composting will not be eligible for funding.

Defra waste and resources minister, Dan Rogerson, said: Preventing waste from being produced in the first place is not only good for the environment but helps to build a stronger economy and supports our businesses too. This is an excellent example of the work we are supporting and I would urge everyone with innovative ideas to get involved.

The fund will run for two years and grants will be awarded in three phases. Applications for this first phase need to be returned to WRAP by 1 September 2014.

Chinook signs 300m UAE EfW deal

Nottingham-based gasification technology firm Chinook part of the US company Chinook Sciences has signed a 300 million deal to construct a thermal energy-from-waste (EfW) plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Awarded by waste management firm Beeah, the contract will see the thermal EfW plant described as the worlds largest plant constructed in the Emirate of Sharjah.

According to UK trade minister Lord Livingston, the development will create around 200 British jobs, about half of which will be based in the East Midlands.

Chief executive and group chairman of Chinook, Dr Rifat Chalabi, said: We are delighted to have been selected as Beeahs partner. The Sharjah Project is a major milestone for Chinook Sciences as it means we are now building the worlds largest household waste gasification plant in partnership with one of the most visionary companies in the sector. This is further validation of our market-leading technology and project delivery capability.

Mid Suffolk approves 30m greenhouse project

Mid Suffolk council has approved planning permission for two commercial greenhouses, which would both use surplus heat from SITA UKs nearby energy-from-waste (EfW) plant under construction in Great Blakenham.

Planning approval for the 30 million greenhouse project, which will be operated by Sterling Suffolk, was agreed last week (May 21), subject to an archaeological survey and percolation tests to prove the flood design being carried out.

According to the council, the project will create more than 200 jobs and turn Suffolk into one of the UKs largest tomato producers.

Michael Blakenham, of Sterling Suffolk, said: We are delighted to have been given the go-ahead for this project, which will bring so many benefits to Mid Suffolk and beyond. It has taken a lot of work to get to this stage and there are still hurdles to overcome, but we should be up and running by the end of next year, creating over two hundred new jobs in the process.

Views sought on Wales waste wood energy plant

Natural Resources Wales is seeking views on an environmental permit application to develop a waste wood incinerator in Margam, Neath Port Talbot.

Margam Green Energy Limited is proposing to build and operate the 38MW energy facility, which would produce enough electricity for the National Grid to power around 65,000 homes. The plant would also have the potential to provide heat to the local area.

As part of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) assessment of the application, it launched a consultation on Wednesday (May 21), with members of the public able to view the permit application at NRWs offices at Maes Newydd in Llandarcy. The consultation will run until 24 June 2014.

NRWs Mary Youell said: Well be conducting a thorough assessment of the proposals before we make any decision on whether we will allow it to go ahead. We are consulting widely and would welcome comments from the local community including local information which may be relevant to the application.

We recognise that waste wood is an important resource which could boost the local economy – but it must be recycled and reused responsibly.If we do allow the permit, it will contain strict conditions to protect people and the environment, and will be regulated closely by our officers for as long as it operates.