Sunderland Looks into Energy from Waste
Posted on: February 5th, 2008 by Emma YoungA £1.6billion incinerator is under consideration in Sunderland as the council struggles to keep on top of Wearside’s waste mountain. Officials are looking into burning the city’s rubbish, along with Gateshead’s and South Tyneside’s, to create energy.
In October, Sunderland City Council worked with neigbouring councils to look into possible means of disposal for the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of household waste handled by the three authorities each year.
Initial investigations into the location of the plant have already taken place, with reports saying it could be accommodated within Sunderland’s boundaries.
However, the controversial “Energy from Waste” system has been sharply criticised by green campaigners who say it produces more harmful gases than conventional power stations.
If plans did go ahead, the possible total cost over the next thirty years would be more than £1.6billion – with Sunderland paying out more than £772million.
The final decision to adopt the technology has not been made yet, and council leaders say there is no definite location for an incinerator in mind.
The technology is one of a number of options put forward cut down on the amount of waste sent to landfill sites like Houghton quarry. The energy from waste system is used by several authorities in the UK, including the Isle of Man.
Other options include using bacteria to break down rubbish, sterilising it with steam treatment or continuing with landfill – but council experts say a change has to be made.
Tax-payers on Wearside confront a £7million bill in taxes and fines for disposing of rubbish under strict Government and European rules if the use of landfill stays the same.
But council sources say whatever waste treatment method was chosen, chances are that it would most likely be built in Sunderland.
