A tender process has begun which will look into possible options to recover and recycle more of the city's waste through processes that could include composting, autoclaving, MBT or incineration.
” It is without question that waste minimisaton and recycling will play a crucial role in the very near future.“
– Cllr George Wheeler, Plymouth CC
The council has not defined the length of the contract, which would be awarded in 2006, but has said it will be “long-term” and could be worth “in excess of 200 million”.
Landfill operations at Chelson Meadow are to be wound up by April 2007, although recycling and sorting operations are likely to continue at the site. Alternatives to the landfill could take between 18 months and five years to become operational, the council said, “so interim methods of waste management will be used”.
Important
Councillor George Wheeler, member for the environment at Plymouth, said: “This is an extremely important contract for Plymouth. We've been preparing for a long time knowing that we would have to find an alternative to landfill disposal. The future is not in landfill.”
Plymouth produces 140,000 tonnes of waste each year, and by the time the new contract begins, the city should be recycling about 24% of this. The council is concerned that the fines it faces under the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme could run into “millions of pounds” if landfill rates are not reduced.
Cllr Wheeler said: “The company we commission will have the task of finding alternatives to dumping. It is without question that waste minimisation and recycling will play a crucial role in the very near future.
“Waste to energy is a possibility. Technologies have moved on significantly and could provide innovative and efficient options for us to consider,” he added.
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