Four waste treatment plants, including the controversial Viridor incinerator in Splott, have been shortlisted for a 25-year contract to deliver a solution for residual waste.
As part of Prosiect Gwyrdd, the shortlist comes as part of a selection process to secure a contract with one plant to treat residual waste for five councils in Wales, including Cardiff.
Prosiect Gwyrdd, meaning Project Green, aims to find the most energy efficient, sustainable and cost effect waste treatment option for residual waste of the five councils once the highest recycling and composting rate has been reached for each area.
The Welsh Assembly Government's Zero Waste Strategy has set a target for the nation to reach a 70% recycling rate by 2025 and 5% maximum disposed to landfill. Prosiect Gwyrdd aims to look at the best way to dispose of the remaining 30% of residual waste. We mapped the city's recycling rates by ward here. The total municipal waste for the five partnership councils will amount to 40% of the overall municipal waste for Wales.
The chosen four 'solutions,' were whittled down from eight potential partners and will now be invited to submit a detailed report on how the targets will be achieved:
Covanta Energy Ltd: Covanta Energy Ltd is proposing a merchant Energy from Waste (EfW) facility located at Brig y Cwm, Merthyr Tydfil.
Veolia ES Aurora Ltd: Veolia ES Aurora Ltd is proposing an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) located at Bowlease Common, South of the existing Corus Llanwern Steelworks, Newport.
Viridor Waste Management Ltd: Viridor Waste Management Ltd is proposing a merchant Energy from Waste (EfW) with Combined Heat and Power facility located at Trident Park, Cardiff.
Waste Recycling Group Ltd: Waste Recycling Group Ltd is proposing an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility located at the Solutia UK site in Traston Road, Newport.
Cardiff councillor Mark Stephens, chairman of the joint committee governing the project, said:
"The priority for each partner authority is to recycle and compost as much waste as possible. Our targets are clear and local authority recycling and composting schemes have been and will continue to be developed to reduce the reliance on landfill and to strive towards the landfill diversions targets that have been set. We acknowledge and are grateful for the financial assistance provided by WAG which allows us to develop the infrastructure and capacity to meet these challenging targets."
"Each authority in Wales will also be procuring a solution for this 'black bag' waste, as landfill is no longer an option both environmentally and economically. The participants selected now have been invited to submit detailed solutions."
The marking scheme for each participant will be made available via the Prosiect Gwyrdd website here and stakeholder events will take place in the New Year. The preferred bidder announcement is expected in Autumn next year.
Spokesperson for the Cardiff Against the Incinerator Campaign group Edmund Schluessel, said:
"The short list shows Prosiect Gwyrdd for what they are: for months, they claim to be 'technology neutral' and then present South Wales' most deprived areas with the choice of an incinerator, an incinerator, an incinerator or an incinerator.
"If the Welsh Assembly Government is looking for a place to make cutbacks, cut the funding for these industry stooges and the multi-million-pound subsidy for a technology that's environmentally and economically irresponsible today and that will turn into a money pit as recycling rates meet and exceed the Assembly's 70% target.
"Cardiff, Newport, Merthyr, Hirwaun, Swansea, Deeside all say: we don't want these rubbish-burning monstrosities or their criminal owners anywhere near Wales."
Cardiff Against the Incinerator will hold a public meeting tonight at 7:30pm in the Splott Sport and Social Club, 1a Aberdovey Street off Walker Road, to discuss the latest developments in the campaign.
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