A Leicestershire county councillor moved yesterday to seek extensive public consultation and debate “on all options informed by the best available science before any further commitment is made for the procurement of energy from waste”.
This follows the selection of energy from waste and combined heat and power as the preferred £100m option for future waste management by the County’s cabinet in July. The conclusion reached by the cabinet was that Efw-CHP gives the smallest carbon footprint.
However the full council rejected the motion for further consultation last night saying that getting public opinion now could derail the process and lead to missed deadlines. However residents will get their say later in the process.
Cllr Matthew O'Callaghan who is leader of the opposition at County Hall and the person tabling the motion, said the council was using "bullying tactics" and forecast later problems with the proposals.
Stack at a modern incinerator
Cllr. O’Callaghan also noted the response of the earlier Environment Scrutiny Committee which felt that it was being asked to comment on the procurement process being followed based on insufficient supporting information. It also considered that whichever solution is to be agreed it should encourage the maximum possible levels of recycling and composting, though this is already Council policy.
The scrutiny committee said that:
“It was important that the availability of an EfW facility did not detract in any way from the ambitious recycling/composting targets that the County/Districts had set themselves which were vital in meeting the required reductions in waste taken to landfill and to encourage the public to be more environmentally friendly. Such a facility’s capacity would need to be built in proportion to those targets to ensure this remained the case.”
At the moment, county residents recycle or compost 42 per cent of their rubbish – one of the best rates in the country - leaving 225,000 tonnes per year that goes to landfill. Unless the landfill total is reduced each year from 2010, the County Council will face multi-million pound fines.
The total capital expenditure involved in developing an EfW facility would be approximately £100m, of which up to 50% could be obtained via a PFI grant.
The PFI scheme allows councils to apply to central Government for credits to help with the capital costs of major schemes. The preferred option of Efw-CHP was arrived at with the help of external consultants.