Bedfordshire site proposed for new incinerator

Bucks County Council have just announced that the Stewartby site in Bedfordshire has been selected for the new Energy from Waste incinerator.

This is great news, as it removes the threat from the site at Edgcott near Calvert which was the alternative location.

Congratulations to SAVI and all who campaigned so hard against the Edgcott proposal.

Both Steeple Claydon and East Claydon parish councils passed resolutions opposing the incinerator.

Martin Tett of Bucks County Council has written:

 
I am writing to advise you that the county council’s Cabinet today selected Covanta Energy as the preferred bidder to treat the county’s residual waste for the next 25 years. The American-owned company proposes to build and operate an energy from waste (EfW) and materials recovery facility at Rookery South Pit near Stewartby, Bedfordshire. Covanta already operates 40 EfW plants in the United States.
As you may recall from earlier correspondence about the project, two final bidders were being considered: Covanta Energy and Waste Recycling Group (WRG). Both bids were of high quality and in terms of overall technology relatively similar – modern incineration using moving grate technology.
Following evaluation against pre-agreed weighted criteria, Covanta was selected on a first-past-the-post, points basis, having achieved a score 6.05% higher than WRG. The decision means WRG with its proposed Calvert site has been deselected. WRG will continue to operate the Calvert landfill site.
Initially, Covanta’s proposed facility will convert some 390,000 tonnes of waste a year into energy. Ultimately, the company proposes to treat 585,000 tonnes of waste a year, producing enough green electricity to power around 82,500 homes and the potential to supply surplus heat to nearby developments. Buckinghamshire’s household waste contract will represent around a quarter of the waste the final facility will treat. Importantly, the amount will reduce steadily as stretching recycling and composting targets are achieved. We currently recycle 43% of waste and are aiming for 60% by 2025.
Driving the need for change are EU and UK targets to cut greenhouse gases by reducing our dependence on landfill, a major producer of such gases. To achieve this objective, like all county councils, Buckinghamshire faces landfill tax rises year on year and potential fines. Last year (2008/09) landfill taxes cost the county £4.5 million.
Due to the proposed plant’s power-generating capacity, Covanta’s planning application will be decided by Government under Section 36 of the Electricity Act in consultation with regulatory authorities and the local community. The application is expected to be made later this year and the facility is expected to be running by 2014 subject to consent being obtained.