Waste decision heralds green future for Lincolnshire
Work could start as early as next February on a landmark energy-from-waste project. Lincolnshire County Council has appointed Northampton-based Waste Recycling Group (WRG) to design, build and operate the county’s new £145m facility at North Hykeham near Lincoln.
The plant, which will reduce the amount of waste Lincolnshire sends to lanfill, could be up and running as early as May 2013.
The facility will create 33 jobs in addition to the employment generated during the construction period.
Project director Richard Belfield of Lincolnshire County Council said: “Lincolnshire is already a national leader and amongst the country’s best performers when it comes to dealing with its waste.
“This landmark announcement means we will soon benefit from a first-class, low-cost facility to treat our non-recyclable waste more effectively while generating much-needed electricity.
“Our congratulations go to WRG who presented the most economically advantageous offer in a very competitive field."
Work on the energy from waste facility began in 2007 and a planning application was passed in July 2009.
The project is being managed by the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership which consists of Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire's seven district councils.
Councillor Lewis Strange, executive member for waste services, said: “After four years of hard work I am delighted to announce that we have appointed WRG to design, build and operate Lincolnshire’s purpose-built energy from waste facility in North Hykeham.
“This plant will dispose of 150,000 tonnes of our non-recyclable municipal rubbish and provide 11MW electricity into the national grid, enough to power up to 15,000 homes.
“It will also present us with the exciting potential to provide heating for new local homes and businesses, thus providing much-needed employment opportunities to many over the years following its commissioning in 2013.
“Even without the benefits of the energy from the waste, the financial benefits to the authority amount to tens of millions of pounds over the life of the project in avoidance of spiralling landfill taxation.”
WRG owns and operates the Allington Waste Management Facility near Maidstone in Kent, which opened in 2008 and incorporates a 500,000 tonnes per year capacity EfW plant, and the Eastcroft EfW Facility in Nottingham, a combined heat and power plant that provides heat for thousands of homes, shops and public buildings in the city centre.
