Biowaste plans get £300m Government cash boost

Food and garden waste will be dealt with in a more sustainable manner in three parts of England after Government agreed to plough over £300m into the projects.


Defra will provide Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits for three projects that will all divert biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) from landfill.

The projects are:

  • Hertfordshire County Council: £115.3 to divert up to 170,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste per year;
  • Norfolk County Council: £91 to divert up to 70,000 tonnes per year by 2020;
  • The South London Waste Partnership: £112.9 to divert up to 102,600 tonnes per year.
  • Environment Minister Jane Kennedy said: “Reducing our reliance on landfill is an essential part of the drive to tackle climate change and I welcome the ambitious commitment made by these partnerships.

    “This will create a real incentive for the local authorities and industry to work together to reduce waste as well as reducing the environmental impact of landfill.”

    Defra says these projects will make an important contribution to tackling climate change.

    They have the potential to divert a total of 342,600 tonnes of BMW from landfill per year by 2020, and will also reduce emissions of carbon and methane from landfill.

    The total potential carbon dioxide emissions savings is approximately 137,500 tonnes, which is equivalent to removing 43,200 cars from the road.

    In addition, these projects have the potential to create over 100 jobs once the plants are operational with up to 1000 jobs during construction and commissioning.

    All authorities involved are aiming for a long-term minimum recycling and composting rate of over 50% by 2020.

    Sam Bond

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