NEWS RELEASE
Date: 2 October 2008
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£181.6m for project to save 391,000 tonnes of landfill waste
Waste facilities in Leicestershire and the South West will see major improvements thanks to a combined £181.6 million in funding announced by Defra today.
In Leicestershire, the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project is expecting to divert 98,000 tonnes of Biodegradable Municipal Waste from landfill in 2020. In the South West the PFI project will divert 293,000 tonnes from landfill in 2020 - making an important contribution to the UK’s landfill directive targets.
Leicestershire plans to build on its already successful recycling and composting record. Not only does the county expect to reach the Government’s 2020 recycling target of 50 per cent 10 years early, but with further plans it aims to reach 58 per cent by 2017. In the South West, 92 per cent of the biodegradable waste in the area will be diverted from landfill.
The schemes could also deliver estimated total net carbon savings of 53,260 tonnes in 2019/20, compared to the current situation. The potential for combined heat and power (CHP) could increase this further to 121,500 tonnes of savings over both projects.
Waste Minister Joan Ruddock 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 Leicestershire and three authorities in the South West.
“PFI agreements like this create a real incentive for local authorities and industry to work together to cut waste and make better use of the waste we do create, as well as reducing our impact on the environment.”
The climate change impacts of projects are considered during the procurement process. The authorities will be issuing their notice to prospective bidders in the Official Journal of European Union (OJEU) shortly.
Notes to editors
- The UK has one of the highest levels of landfill in Europe. In 2006, 60% of the 35.5 million tonnes of municipal waste went to landfill.
- In the South West, the partnership, comprised of Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and Devon County Council, (covering the districts of South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon), will issue a notice to prospective bidders in the Official Journal of European Union (OJEU) shortly.
- The UK has been set targets to reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfill under the EU Landfill Directive. The UK is obliged to reduce the volume of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill to 75% of the 1995 levels by 2010; 50% by 2013; and 35% by 2020.
- To date Defra has have committed over £1.4billion to 29 projects, and there are an additional 17 projects in the application process.
- In the Waste Strategy for England. 2007, Defra published new national waste targets. These include higher targets for recycling and composting of household waste to at least 40% by 2010; 45% by 2015; and 50% by 2020.
- The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) 2007 provided Defra with additional funding through PFI. The overall level has risen from £280m in 2007/08 to £600 million, and £700 million over the following years, totalling £2 billion of further investment in waste infrastructure.
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Page published: 2 October 2008