£9m Stoke-on-Trent rubbish plant plan to boost recycling rates
MORE than £9 million will be invested in a new waste plant to generate power for homes and businesses.
The proposed development is part of ambitious plans to restore weekly bin collections in the Potteries, as revealed in The Sentinel in July.
Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council has confirmed it has lodged a bid for £14 million of Government funding to build a plant which would use pioneering technology to automatically sort general waste from recyclable rubbish.
It could pave the way for households to once again dispose of all of their rubbish in a single bin, emptied every week, while also dramatically improving recycling rates.
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The new plant, earmarked for an undisclosed location in the city, would also see less rubbish sent to landfill and more power generated from recycling.
And it would slash the amount of rubbish wrongly sent to waste-to-energy incinerators, which sees the council billed even if the rubbish is unsuitable for burning.
Officers and councillors last year unveiled a target for the city to become energy self-sufficient by 2030, generating enough power to become independent of the national grid.
Further concepts being investigated include creating collectivist energy networks for businesses to buy and sell surplus power, plunging a giant borehole into Chatterley Whitfield park to convert energy from hot water below the surface, and pumping hot water from mines to use for power.
Councillor Andy Platt, cabinet member for city services and green enterprises, pictured, said: "Making Stoke-on-Trent an energy self-sufficient city by 2030 is both a bold and challenging proposal but one we have a duty to investigate.
"This project is about helping residents understand the full potential of the contents of their bin.
"We want people to think of their bin as an energy bin rather than a waste bin."
Funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government would see £9 million spent on the plant, and £2.5 million spent on new bin wagons.
It is part of Communities Secretary Eric Pickles' weekly collections cash pot.
The Labour-run council is understood to be the only authority in the country looking to ditch a fortnightly collection of food and general waste for a weekly round.
It currently empties general waste grey bins every fortnight and blue and brown bins, used for recycling and organic waste, in the alternate week.
If the bid is approved, the council will receive an initial £150,000 to draw up and submit a business case within a year.
Vic Rawlinson, chairman of Shelton Residents' Association, said: "We've got three and a box, and in some of the terrace houses people are having to carry the bins through their houses for collection."
Comments
by paulmogan
Saturday, September 22 2012, 11:40AM
“If Labour Len is correct in the new rubbish site being the old Victoria ground they wont even need a change of use licence as there was always a load of rubbish on there!!”
by gormhenghast
Saturday, September 22 2012, 10:28AM
“Just had a vision of said Council queuing at the Crematorium by the ovens, all chanting we are RUBBISH we must burn, we must burn,burn BURN, dreams eh.”
by muzzer57
Thursday, September 20 2012, 5:54PM
“Expect this project to come in at least double the estimate if our Council are overseeing the finances.”
by HigginsIND
Thursday, September 20 2012, 11:49AM
“In principle this seems like a great idea, power self self-sufficiency and greater Eco credentials.
However, I seriously doubt the councils ability achieve such a monumental task.”
by I_Norris
Thursday, September 20 2012, 10:54AM
“Warren this is about improving our waste process, saving money and may generating our own power and maybe some income.
But appears yourself as well as other in labour group are willing to se serives suffer and se money wasted then accept the tory pound. Thats very sad and lack in care for the City.
This should have been in place years ago but has never been delivered im glad Cllr Platt has accepted the bid i just hope its not to late. And were not held to ransom, believe being discussed on Closed agenda”
by warren-lloyd
Thursday, September 20 2012, 8:21AM
“Thing is Ian, I believe in recycling and, unlike most in the city it seems, I have no problem understanding what is a rather simple system of rubbish disposal and have the boundless energy to do it. Oooh! And I will not take any "Look what the nice Conservative people have done for you" bribes off Eric Pickells.”
by I_Norris
Thursday, September 20 2012, 7:54AM
“Warren going a bit off script there arent we, nice to see.
Do why do you believe we should continue to transfer our waste to adhbourne? Wont this save money in long run.”
by warren-lloyd
Thursday, September 20 2012, 4:14AM
“My bins go every week and I do a trip to the council tip if I have to much before pick up day.”
by labour-len
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 9:35PM
“The "undisclosed" site is the former Stoke ground as it has a local Electrical Grid point by it, along with access from the A500”
by I_Norris
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 7:34PM
“truestokie: dont worry Joy Garner won't even look into making a bid for it, so she will be kept out way. So good news at least we have bid for it.
The tricky news we signed a 10 yr contract with Vital Earth in Ashbounre to deal with our green waste, we did add a 3yr break clause which ends April 2013, This scheme should been up and running now to meet that clause.
If we do win bid, will vital earth give us another year or two to get it built, and allow us to leave contract?”