From Liz Waugh, Exeter 383578, November 21, 2006
A PROPOSAL to build a modern energy from waste combined heat and power plant for Exeter to reduce the amount of waste buried in landfill sites is published today by Devon County Council.
The report which proposes the construction of an Energy from Waste plant on the site of the existing waste transfer station in Grace Road, Marsh Barton, will be considered by the County Council's Cabinet, the Executive, on November 28.
The proposed plant will use an up to date process which burns the rubbish left after maximising recycling and composting to provide combined heat and power in the form of electricity and steam. The electricity can be sold back into the national grid, whilst steam which can be used to heat local schools and businesses.
The Council has been investigating different waste management options as part of a response to a new European Union directive. The directive limits the amount of waste local authorities can send to landfill and will impose fines if the levels are exceeded. As waste is increasing by an average of 1% each year, this could be as much as £7.8m by 2012.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Brian Greenslade said: "Even though we are one of the top three recycling counties in the country, recycling alone will not help us meet our targets. Currently we recycle about 40% of our waste and we are aiming to achieve 50% by 2010. This still means over 100,000 tonnes a year that will require disposal by other means, so we have to look at alternatives.
"We cannot continue to depend on landfill either as the fines imposed by the EU could mean an extra bill for householders in Devon. It could be as much as £36 per household, so it is vital that we look at all the options available.
"We have looked at all the available options before opting to propose an Energy from Waste plant. Our priority was to create a proposal that was right for the area, so it achieved its objectives with the minimum impact. It was important that the solution used the latest and proven technology, and had the potential to offset its cost through power production too."
Councillor Margaret Rogers, Executive Member for the Environment said: "We are proposing to build an energy from waste plant which will easily fit on the Grace Road site and uses proven technology which is in use in plants across the UK and Europe. It produces a significant amount of heat - 3 MW of heat and steam which could be used to heat up to 8,000 households or community facilities.
"The next stage is to find out what people think about the idea, so we are holding public exhibitions with information and experts on hand to discuss the issue. We are keen to hear people's opinions so we have also set up a website and information line so that people can find out more about the subject. "
The Council considered three different processes for waste management: Energy from Waste, gasification and pyrolysis and mechanical biological treatment with anaerobic digestion (MBT).
MBT is a three fold process that removes metals before using bacteria in a biological treatment to turn the rest of the waste into a compost-like material for landfill. A fuel can also be made for burning (refuse derived fuel).
Gasification and pyrolysis is a thermal process that heats the waste at very high temperatures, initially without and then with oxygen, to give a char and a gas that can be burned to provide energy. A residue is produced which is landfilled. The waste needs to be presorted before undergoing the process.
Energy from Waste providing combined heat and power is a process that burns waste under controlled conditions in a modern furnace, generating heat and electricity which is captured for use offsite. The process produces solid bottom ash which can be used in the construction industry for road building or marking blocks and fly ash residues which are sent to specialist landfills.
The exhibitions are open to everyone and being staged:
Friday 1st December: 10am - 8pm: Exeter Livestock Centre
Saturday 2nd December: 10am - 4pm: Exeter Livestock Centre
Monday 4th December: 10am - 8pm: Music Room, Exeter Central Library
More information about the proposal is available on www.devon.gov.uk/energyfromwaste or the information line 0845 0944 519.
