The County Council has conducted a thorough investigation into the many ways that waste disposal could happen in the future. It has looked at all the issues including the technology involved, the expected cost, environmental factors, possible locations for a plant, plus any associated benefits. It has commissioned independent research and analyses to examine all the variables to provide an informed proposal.

Below is a brief outline of the key points and more information will be published online as it becomes available. The exhibitions will feature a fuller explanation of the technologies considered, and experts will be on hand to answer your questions.

The County Council is proposing to build a modern combined heat and power energy from waste plant to deal with waste disposal, on a site in Grace Road in Marsh Barton in Exeter. This will meet stringent new EU regulations and also make use of an existing waste transfer site.  Its central position in Exeter means that it that it will limit the amount of transport needed to move the waste, and it is in the middle of an industrial and retail park, rather than a residential area.

Three types of technology were identified as possible ways to manage the waste issue:

• Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) with anaerobic digestion or mechanical biological treatment with refuse derived fuel and anaerobic digestion. MBT is a two fold process that removes metals before using bacteria in a biological treatment to turn the rest of the waste into a compost like material that is landfilled or made into a fuel 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.

Comparing types of technology is difficult as they are all used in different ways, in differently sized plants and using different systems which don’t compare like for like. However, having considered all the options, the Council is proposing that combined heat and power represents the best choice. This would be in the form of an Energy from Waste plant which provides energy that could be used to offset the cost, provide heat to local businesses and schools , uses tested technology and operates in a clean and reliable way. It is also the smallest plant and most economical choice.

Next Page (FAQs)

• Talk to Us