The authority is currently recycling 16% of its waste – in line with its statutory target – and now considers it needs to prioritise “landfill diversion” because its Chelson Meadow landfill will be full in 2007 and additional landfill space is scarce.
While increases in recycling will still be needed, the authority is expected to agree that further diversion from landfill – possibly through the use of new technology – should have priority.
All options are said to be available to city council members, although city sources suggest that energy from waste is unlikely to be chosen. This is because of local and perceived national sentiments against energy from waste, plus the fact that development of a plant would not be up-and-running quickly enough to deal with the city's waste before Chelson Meadow closes.
The new waste treatment and disposal contact will be framed in as flexible a way as possible, said a council spokesman. “It will concentrate on outputs and not be too specific about the type of waste treatment processes which might be considered.”
Advice
Les Netherton, head of environmental services, said: “Plymouth is currently framing its consultation for waste treatment and disposal to take waste away from landfill from 2007. Our advice to members at this time is for the council to remain as flexible as possible, to concentrate on outputs and not to be specific about any waste treatment processes.
“It is clear there is considerable national confusion over the role of traditional waste to energy incineration and our best practical environmental option report does not see waste to energy through incineration as an option. The lead in-time for traditional waste to energy would be far more extensive than the timeframe for the closure of our landfill in 2007.”
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