Waste centre to save cash and produce electricity

A NEW waste treatment facility for Hertfordshire is set to save council taxpayers £31m a year while diverting thousands of tonnes of rubbish from landfill and creating enough electricity to power 50,000 homes.

The joint project by the county council and waste management company Veolia Environmental Services (UK) is part of a 25-year contract – the largest ever signed by HCC.

According to Denis Gasquet, chief executive of Veolia Environmental Services, the purpose-built facility in Hatfield will treat the county’s residual waste via a sustainable approach that “boosts recycling and creates low-carbon renewable energy while maximising landfill diversion”.

Cllr Derrick Ashley, the council’s executive member for waste management, said that Veolia was up against “tough competition” and offered the “best all-round solution” for Herts.

“The contract with Veolia has been negotiated with a minimum tonnage of 180,000 tonnes so as not to interfere with expected increases in the level of recycling and composting,” he said.

The proposed facility will use “mechanical pre-treatment” to further recover 28,000 tonnes of recyclable material from waste delivered to the site.

In addition, it will generate electricity from non-recyclable residual waste, supplying enough electricity to the National Grid to power 50,000 homes.

Veolia is now preparing a planning application which will be submitted in November. More information is available on www.veolia.co.uk/hertfordshire.