Covanta preferred bidder for EfW deal in royal borough

Winning this contract is part of Covanta’s long-term aim to develop a number of energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities across the UK. Around 30,000 tonnes per annum of non-recyclable waste will be treated at Covanta’s Rookery South resource recovery facility in Bedfordshire.

Meanwhile all of the organic waste collected in the borough will be processed by Covanta’s organic waste partner, Agrivert. Some 15,000 tonnes of food and garden waste produced each year will be treated at Agrivert’s anaerobic digester and composting facilities in Oxfordshire.

Covanta Energy’s UK managing director, Malcolm Chilton, said: “This is another step forward to achieving our long-term goals, providing local authorities and private sector waste producers with modern, sustainable waste treatment solutions.

“By working with Agrivert, our waste management solution will help drive up recycling rates and will generate significant levels of sustainable energy.”

Cllr Phill Bicknell, the Royal Borough’s cabinet member for highways, transport & environment, added: “Our negotiations with Covanta have secured a really good deal for our residents, with immediate savings from April this year through using the Agrivert organic waste facilities.

“Then, in four years’ time, we can look forward to zero landfill tax when waste that can’t be recycled is used to generate energy.”

The contract is due to start in December 2012.

Maxine Perella