Staffordshire EfW wins planning permission

But, the project must still clear a number of hurdles, with the planning decision now being sent to be reviewed by the Government Office of the West Midlands and award of the contract to build and operate the plant not expected to be made until May 2010.

The decision to approve the council's plans to use the Four Ashes site, near Cannock, for the facility was welcomed by councillor John Taylor, leader of Staffordshire county council, who claimed it was good news for the county's residents.

“The new energy from waste operation will make a major contribution to driving down costs – both to the tax payer and to the environment,” he said.

“The Government has already given us £122.4m to get the project moving because it will contribute significantly towards the UK's landfill reduction target and in tackling climate change too.

“The costs of landfill are spiralling and we simply have to act now to protect Staffordshire tax payers – it's the precautionary principle in action,” he said.

The council received its PFI funding from Defra in July 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story) and announced last month that it had narrowed the list of bidders for the 25-year contract from 13 to four.

The remaining bidders for the contract, which has been dubbed 'Project W2R' are: US Energy-from-Waste specialist Covanta; German incineration firm MWV Umwelt; a consortium between Shanks and EfW experts Wheelabrator; and, Veolia Environmental Services.

If built, as well as processing 140,000 tonnes-a-year of Staffordshire's residual waste, the plant would also take waste from neighbouring councils, including 40,000 tonnes from Warwickshire, 50,000 tonnes from Walsall, and 60,000 tonnes from Sandwell – with the latter deal being agreed in July 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story).

The decision to secure a site and procure the PFI contract at the same time has been described as “ground-breaking in setting a precedent” for other councils, by consultancy Enviros who have supported Staffordshire in both aspects of the project.

Controversial

Despite the progress made with both procuring the contract and securing a site to build the facility on, the plans have proved controversial.

In September 2008, members of South Staffordshire district council recommended further investigation into both traffic and construction issues at the Four Ashes site (see letsrecycle.com story).

And, with the county council already processing residual waste using EfW at the 180,000 tonne-a-year capacity Hanford plant, near Stoke, and local media reports that an incinerator in nearby Wolverhampton is operating at 30,000 tonnes below capacity, campaigners and residents have questioned the justification for building a new plant – especially as the county's recycling rate increases.

The next step for the PFI contract will see Staffordshire county council invite the remaining bidders to submit detailed proposals for the award, with the aim of finalising the deal in July 2010 and having a facility up-and-running in 2013.