SHANKS has been named as the preferred bidder for a plant to treat food waste from homes across South West Wales.
The Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant will be sited at the company’s New Inn site at Pontypool and will divert more than 97% of the waste it processes from landfill whilst generating sufficient green energy to power approximately 4,000 homes.
The South West Wales Regional Waste Partnership, which includes Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Bridgend councils, has appointed Shanks following a rigorous procurement process.
All five local authorities are collecting food waste from the kerbside and the facility will help them to meet the Wales recycling/composting target of 70% by 2025 as well as their individual landfill allowance figures.
Cllr Ted Latham, Chair of the Joint Committee, governing the project, said: “If we are to meet the targets set by the Welsh Government and the EU then we must develop new waste treatment facilities and that includes anaerobic digestion. Not only is this because landfill space is running out but also because of the harmful environmental effects of landfill.
“The priority for each of the partner authorities is to recycle and compost as much of our waste as possible. It has been extremely important to work collaboratively on this project and we are delighted to announce Shanks as our preferred bidder.”
It is understood Shanks has submitted a planning application to Torfaen County Borough Council for the development of the AD plant.
Anaerobic digestion is an enclosed biological process where bacteria break down organic matter in the absence of air to reduce its bulk.
The process produces biogas which can be converted into green electricity which can be sold to the National Grid and also heat which sustains the process and could also be used to heat local homes or businesses.
A nutrient rich liquid fertiliser is also produced for use by farmers to help cultivate agricultural land.
It is hoped the facility will be operational by 2014.
The partnership is also working on plans for a residual waste treatment facility for the region, although this is very much in its early stages.
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