Surrey launches waste review in bid to keep PFI credits

Defra threatened to pull Surrey's PFI funding last December, because the county was taking too long to establish new facilities to divert municipal waste from landfill (see letsrecycle.com story).

” There are many people in Surrey who have built up a great deal of knowledge about waste – this is a chance for them to contribute to a major piece of work. “
– Cllr Marian Myland, Surrey CC
From today, Surrey's Environment and Economy Select Committee is carrying out what is being called an “informal” consultation on the number and type of residual waste treatment plants the might be needed under the PFI contract with SITA UK.

Experts have suggested to letsrecycle.com that a plan for two incinerators to be built in the county is considered a possibility, but a spokeswoman for the council said at this stage “all options are being looked at”.

Waste specialist organisations, interested parties and residents are being asked to submit written evidence on waste treatment technologies – particularly concerning health effects, environmental impacts and the economics behind different technologies.

The committee is inviting comments until April 6.

Evidence
Cllr Marian Myland, chairman of the environment and economy select committee explained: “These reviews offer an excellent opportunity for the committee to consider and debate actual evidence and facts, which will help us to come to informed conclusions. There are many people in Surrey who have built up a great deal of knowledge about waste – this is a chance for them to contribute to a major piece of work.”

Opinions aired will help shape the county's Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy – which will determine how Surrey will deal with its residual waste in the future. The committee will meet at the end of April to review the options, and will scrutinise the county's waste management strategy in early May.

Surrey's PFI award of 85.5 million is currently the largest government pay-out for any finalised waste management contract under the Private Finance Initiative. The contract was signed by contractor Surrey Waste Management – part of SITA UK – in the year 2000.

In the six years since, Surrey has been unable to establish major new waste treatment infrastructure, with two proposed incinerators at Capel and Copyhold being rejected by planners.

Defra
Defra warned in December 2005 that Surrey needed to “demonstrate that things can be turned around or there is a possibility of funding being pulled”.

Until a new waste treatment option is decided on, the council has said it is concentrating on increasing household waste recycling rates, with a target of recycling 60% of household waste set for 2025.