Waste incinerator for West Norfolk?
PLANS for a new household waste disposal plant in West Norfolk are in the offing – and an incinerator to burn waste has not been ruled out.
Norfolk County Council hopes to secure a site by the end of April with a view to it being up and running by 2013.
The Lynn News understands potential sites have already been identified but Norfolk cabinet member for waste management and the environment Ian Monson would not be drawn over where any potential sites were.
But he did say it would make sense to have a West Norfolk plant as far away as possible from Costessey, near Norwich, where plans have already been agreed for a new eco-friendly biological facility.
Although an incinerator has not been ruled out by the county, he promised safety would be a priority and consultations with local people would take place.
More ways of dealing with waste are needed as landfill sites fill up and large European fines are promised for putting too much waste in landfill sites in future.
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham is concerned the county has not ruled out an incinerator, where waste is burned though power from the process can also be harnessed, because there have been fears in other parts of the country where such plants have been alleged to have caused plumes of pollution.
"I would like the county council to make it clear that they are not looking at incinerators," Mr Bellingham said.
There were originally plans for an incinerator at Costessey, though these did not go ahead because of restrictions over use of the site.
Council projects manager Joel Hull said the reference project the county had developed for future waste services was based on anaerobic digestion – a process similar to the Costessey facility which already has planning permission.
Anaerobic digestion works by biodegradable material being broken down without oxygen use.
The process produces methane and carbon dioxide-rich bio-gas suitable for energy production.
Also, the nutrient-rich solids left after digestion can be used as fertiliser.
He confirmed no site had as yet been secured but the public would be consulted as part of the county's wider planning consultation for waste sites.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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