North Wales councils work together on waste

Landfill space is very tight say councils

Non-recyclable waste may be burned as part of a new plan for north Wales councils to stop using landfill sites.

The new waste partnership, of all five north Wales councils, said one idea being looked at was an incinerator.

Heat and power would be produced during the incineration process, which could be sold as 'green energy'.

Flintshire county council chief executive, Colin Everett, said waste was a very big issue and there was not enough space in landfill sites.

The partnership said using landfill was no longer a sustainable option for dealing with the type of 'residual' waste that is impossible to recycle, or compost.

Later this year waste management companies will be invited to tender and propose solutions for managing this residual waste.

Waste partner councils Isle of Anglesey County Council Gwynedd council Conwy County Borough Council Denbighshire County Council Flintshire County Council Source: The North Wales Residual Waste Treatment Project

Any site, or sites, and the technology selected, would be subject to normal planning processes.

The site being used to illustrate the business case to the Welsh Assembly Government is in Deeside Industrial Estate in Flintshire.

Work has already begun in speaking to local communities about the plan.

The views of residents from across north Wales will also be sought with a random telephone survey being carried out to gauge opinion on waste issues.

A series of consultation events and road shows are also planned.

"We recognised that municipal waste management is changing and our role is more than 'collecting' and 'disposing' of waste," said Flintshire County Council chief executive, Colin Everett, on behalf of the partnership.

"What we do with our waste is a really big issue for us as space in landfill sites is very limited."

He added that the project to develop the necessary waste facilities was an important one that would benefit everyone in north Wales.

"Whichever way you look at it, the environmental benefits and costs of this project far outweigh continuing to manage waste as we do now as the treatment facilities will help save the partnership more than £5.5m a year."