Veolia says the facility will save 65,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year compared with sending the waste to landfill, and the plant will be 30% more energy efficient than the average facility.
An “enhanced process” will also see double the amount of metals out of the bottom ash recovered, which improves the embedded carbon recovery of the metal, Veolia added.
Richard Kirkman, chief technology and innovation officer at Veolia UK and Ireland, said: “This facility will allow Hampshire to lead the way in waste management, saving 65,000 tonnes of carbon emissions compared to landfill and delivering a 30% increase in energy efficiency.
“In terms of a green recovery, this represents an important investment in new clean infrastructure that will contribute towards reaching the carbon net-zero target as well as providing new construction jobs and permanent local employment.”
MRF
The facility will be based near Alton, at a site where Veolia already operates a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).
As well as the proposal for the ERF, Veolia is planning for the current MRF to be replaced by a “super MRF” in Hampshire.
“With the Alton and Portsmouth materials recycling facilities being considered for replacement, a new combined recycling facility is also being planned,” Veolia said.
It added: “ A new hi-tech recycling plant would provide improved recycling allowing Hampshire residents to recycle plastic pots, tubs and trays.”
Hampshire
Veolia says the Alton energy recovery plant is “sized for non-recyclable Hampshire waste that is currently landfilled in the county, or sent elsewhere”.
It added that its current facilities energy recovery facilites in Hampshire (Portsmouth, Chineham and Marchwood), are operating at full capacity, and the latest development will help to deal with “the large volume of waste produced whilst allowing recycling to grow”.
It says the Alton site will be monitored 24/7 by the Environment Agency, and “the plant will be safe and will turn residual waste into enough power for 75,000 Hampshire homes and create over 300 jobs during construction, plus 40 permanent roles once operational”, Veolia said.
Consultations
The application follows a period of pre-application public consultations which were undertaken between February and March 2020 across Alton, Holybourne, Bentley, Froyle and Binsted.
Veolia explained that it “listened carefully” to feedback and concerns and provided full responses to the questions alongside the application.
Several changes were made to the architecture taking into account local views on the appearance of the facility.
The facility would provide electricity for 75,000 Hampshire homes and create 300 jobs during construction plus 40 permanent roles once it is operational, Veolia added.
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