Waste incineration plan estimated to reduce CO2 footprint by 30 per cent

Essex County Council claims incinerating residual waste in Essex will ultimately reduce its carbon footprint as it plans an end to landfilling years earlier than expected.

The council estimates that the winning bid from Indaver Rivenhall – with a combined waste capacity of 337,000 tonnes – will result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of around 30 per cent when compared to its current landfill disposal arrangements.

It says this equates to the saving of over 540,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide across the initial seven-year contract term.

With current waste contracts for landfilling waste due to expire on March 31 2025, the new contracts will run for seven years from April 1, 2025.

The contract includes an option to extend for up to a further seven years.

The estimated total value of the contract over the potential 14 years could be over £1bn subject to changes in law that will impact the waste industry.

As part of the tender, the council set a requirement that landfill could not be used from January 1, 2028. This is two years ahead of the recommendation from the Essex Climate Action Commission to send zero waste to landfill by 2030.

Through the contracts, much of Essex’s waste will be used for a short period to generate heat and electricity in an energy-from-waste plant on the continent and in the longer-term electricity in at Indaver’s facility being constructed in Rivenhall.

Councillor Peter Schwier, climate czar and cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said: “I am delighted to be able to award these contracts for the treatment of our black bag waste in Essex. This will ensure medium-term arrangements are in place for the disposal of our waste while our waste strategy is considered for adoption by our city, district and borough councils across Essex for the longer term.

“I am also very pleased to see a very early end to our waste going to landfill which will really benefit the environment and help us achieve our net zero ambitions.”