The new facility, planned for Heather Farm near the village of Chobham, will incorporate a materials recycling facility at the front, with the non-recyclable waste being put through anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis treatment. Heat generated would be used to provide power to around 4,000 homes in the Woking area.
” Although Surrey council has responsibility for waste disposal, Woking has decided to be proactive and work with Surrey to find a solution to deal with our waste “
– Woking council
Woking would build the facility despite having no disposal obligations. The council has said that this would be done in order to deal with the waste at as local a level as possible. Waste diverted from landfill will still help Surrey county council achieve its landfill diversion targets.
The plant would be built separately from the waste disposal contract SITA subsidiary Surrey Waste Management has with the county council. Woking council said: “Although Surrey council has responsibility for waste disposal, Woking has decided to be proactive and work with Surrey to find a solution to deal with our waste. The proposal is consistent with Surrey's Joint Waste Strategy for the county.”
Under Woking's current timetable construction on the plant would begin in 2007, with the doors opening to accept waste by 2009.
The project will be funded by power generator Thameside Energy. Thameside Energy will then supply electricity generated using heat from the plant.
The plant is to have a 100,000 tonne capacity providing more than sufficient scope to deal with Woking's waste footprint of 80,000 tonnes.
Laura Russell, spokeswoman for the council, said: “The 80,000 tonne footprint includes commercial waste, which is to be dealt with elsewhere. This means there will be space for some nearby authorities to also send their waste to the plant.”
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Waste sent to the Heather Farm site would first go through the MRF, where metals and plastic will be removed. These will be bulked before being sent on to a reprocessor.
The remaining waste would be separated and the organic portion will be put through an anaerobic digestion plant. Residual waste will be put through a pyrolysis facility.
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