UBB Waste (Essex) Ltd, a partnership between waste management company Urbaser and infrastructure group Balfour Beatty, signed a PFI contract with Essex in 2012 to design, build, and operate the MBT facility across a 28-year period (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, the facility was plagued by significant issues and Essex announced in April it would be closed, cleaned and removed from the site, with UBB’s contract cancelled (see letsrecycle.com story).
The work will include the removal of key items of machinery and equipment, much of which, Essex says, will be reused or recycled.
Cllr Malcolm Buckley, Essex’s cabinet member for waste reduction and recycling, said: “It’s really important that the facility’s owners are able to repurpose and reuse as much of the equipment from the facility. Where items can’t be used elsewhere, we hope they will be recycled wherever possible.
“In the meantime, UBB is looking to remove the facility as soon as possible and I am pleased these initial works will start soon.”
The dismantling of the building itself is expected to start later in the autumn, Essex says. The works are scheduled to be completed around Easter 2024.
Residual waste
Meanwhile, Essex county council says it is continuing to work on a long-term strategy for residual waste management in Essex.
The council plans to launch a full public consultation on the future of household waste management in Essex “at a later date”.
Essex formally launched a tender for an initial seven-year deal worth £62 million per year for the disposal of 350,000 tonnes of residual waste per annum in August (see letsrecycle.com story). However, the council unexpectedly pulled the procurement process on Friday (21 October).
The council currently sends residual waste to various landfill sites, including the Bellhouse Landfill in Colchester.
Essex has landfilled residual waste following the failure of the Tovi Eco Park and changes in the market for refuse derived fuel (see letsrecycle.com story).
Essex
Cllr Buckley added: “We are working with the city, district and borough councils on options for a long-term solution for our waste treatment and disposal.
“Steps are already being taken to develop a new waste strategy and we will continue to progress the project as quickly as possible.
“However, we must also ensure we get it right so that we can encourage more sustainable and environmentally-friendly waste management in the long term.”
Representing an estimated population of more than 1.8 million, Essex county council had a household waste recycling rate of 49.8% in the 2020/21 financial year.
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