SITA signs 30-year MWDA contract

As part of the public-private partnership contract, the recycling and resource management firm will finance, build and operate new infrastructure to manage over 430,000 tonnes of household residual waste each year, by turning it into enough electrical energy to power the equivalent of around 63,000 homes.

The waste will come from around 1.5m people within Halton Borough Council and the boroughs of the MWDA. It will then be taken to a rail-linked waste transfer station at Knowsley and transferred to the new plant at Wilton. 

SITA UK chief executive David Palmer-Jones said: “The signing of this contract is great news for Merseyside and for the environment, because it means we will now be able to begin building the necessary infrastructure to put this waste material to good use – rather than sending it to landfill.

“Agreeing this contract is also great news for local employment near our sites, because we expect to create around 75 permanent jobs and employ hundreds more during the construction process.”

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority chief executive Carl Beer added: “We are looking forward to working in partnership with SITA UK and other partners to develop modern and efficient facilities that apply the highest environmental standards in tackling the region’s waste issues. Appointing the right contractors, with the right level of expertise, has been a critical part of that process.”

Liz Gyekye