The 28-year contract with local company Donarbon Ltd has been agreed by the council's decision-making body, the cabinet, this week.
 An artist's impression of the proposed MBT plant at Waterbeach, which Donarbon is hoping to use for the PFI contract |
This recommendation will now go before the full council who will decide if approval should be granted at a meeting on May 15.
The new contract, the largest of its kind for the authority, is part of a Waste Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme, to which the Government has contributed 35m.
Donarbon, a privately-owned, family business, was selected as the county's preferred bidder for the tendering process back in September (see letsrecycle.com story).
MBT
Donarbon is to build a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant on its existing waste management park at Waterbeach, located off the A10, between Waterbeach and Chittering.
This site is already used for sorting, recycling, treating and composting green waste from Cambridgeshire, and the company has already been granted planning permission for the new MBT plant (see letsrecycle.com story).
The scheme also includes a visitor centre and additional facilities for the composting of kerbside-collected kitchen and garden waste.
Councillor John Reynolds, cabinet member for environment and community services, said: “Cambridgeshire has record breaking recycling rates but we can do better. We cannot carry on dumping rubbish that can't be recycled in landfill.
“Not only is it bad for the environment but will cost Cambridgeshire millions of pounds in Government imposed tax and fines. This new contract will be more environmentally friendly and cheaper than continuing to landfill and will see Cambridgeshire once again leading the way in waste management.”
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Cambridgeshire is a Beacon Council when it comes to waste and recycling. This means the Government recognizes its achievement and its innovation in the field, and has asked the council to share its expertise with other local authorities.
In 2005/06, Cambridgeshire recycled and composted 43.5% of its 300,000 tonnes of household waste.
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