Proposals for a new energy-from-waste facility at Great
Blakenham that will save over 250,000 tonnes of household and
business waste from being sent to landfill each year, along with
75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, are set to go on show
later this month. Public engagement is taking place before a
planning application is submitted later this year.
Suffolk residents will be able to look at the plans, view what
the facility may look like, speak to the development team and
submit their views on the project at public exhibitions at Great
Blakenham Village Hall on:
- Thursday 22nd July: 12-6pm
- Friday 23rd July: 2-8pm
The facility is being proposed by SITA UK – one of the country’s
leading recycling and resource management companies – following its
selection by Suffolk County Council as its Preferred Bidder for a
25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Residual Waste Treatment
Contract. Contract award is subject to a decision by Suffolk
County Council’s cabinet, which will take place later this
year.
The proposed facility would use modern, proven technology to
produce energy from around 269,000 tonnes of waste per year that
would otherwise be sent to landfill. Once fully operational, the
facility would produce enough electricity to power 30,000 homes -
equivalent to a town around the size of Lowestoft - and would
create around 43 new, long-term jobs for Suffolk.
Commenting on the project, James Dowell – SITA UK Project
Manager, said: “SITA UK always works hard to be a good neighbour
and is committed to delivering an open and inclusive community
engagement programme for the proposed energy-from-waste
facility. We want to ensure that local residents are fully
informed about the proposals, recognise why we need to divert waste
from landfill and understand how the facility sits alongside the
Suffolk Waste Partnership’s goal to recycle or compost 60% of
municipal waste by 2015.
“We have taken great care in the design of the facility to
ensure it fits well into its surroundings. The design of the
building has been developed by Grimshaw, a world renowned firm of
architects, who have worked on iconic developments such as the Eden
Project in Cornwall.
“This is the start of the public engagement process with more
exhibitions and events planned for September and October to allow
the whole of the county the chance to see and understand the
proposals, before we submit a planning application in December
2010.”
Supporting documents
ENDS
Notes to editors:
SITA UK
SITA UK, a subsidiary of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, is a recycling and
resource management company, generating environmental value, social
value and economic value from our nation’s waste. The company
delivers environmentally responsible and increasingly innovative
solutions for the public, local government, industry and commerce,
enabling our customers to reduce their impact on the environment.
SITA UK serves over 12 million people and handles more than 9
million tonnes of domestic, commercial and industrial waste through
a network of recycling, composting, energy-from-waste and landfill
facilities. SITA UK employs over 5,500 staff and has an
annual turnover in excess of £750 million.
SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT
Natural resources are not infinite. Each day, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT
(Paris: SEV, Brussels: SEVB) and its subsidiaries deal with the
challenge to protect resources by providing innovative solutions to
industries and to millions of people. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT supplies
drinking water to 90 million people, provides wastewater treatment
services for 58 million people and collects the waste produced by
46 million people. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT has 65,900 employees and,
with its presence on a global scale, is the world’s leader
exclusively dedicated to environmental services. SUEZ
ENVIRONNEMENT, a 35.4% GDF SUEZ affiliate, reported sales turnover
of 12.3 billion euros at the end of financial year 2009.
For further information contact:
PPS
Group
Julian
Seymour
02075291714 /
julian.seymour@ppsgroup.co.uk
SITA UK
Anthony
Durston
01628 513244 /
anthony.durston@sita.co.uk
SITA UK will provide the proposed energy-from-waste facility at
Great Blakenham on behalf of Suffolk County Council (the waste
disposal authority)
For questions relating to Suffolk County Council contact:
Sandra
Graffham
01473 264 395 /
sandra.graffham@suffolk.gov.uk
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