You are here:

£138 million to help reduce landfill waste

   

NEWS RELEASE

Ref: 377/08
Date: 27 November 2008

Plans to improve local waste management facilities in the Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire area were given a boost today, with the award of £138 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits.

Milton Keynes Council and Northamptonshire County Council will be working together to deliver this project, making an important contribution to the UK’s landfill directive targets.

By 2020, about 200,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste could be diverted from landfill each year thanks to this funding.   Potential net carbon savings, compared to the current arrangements, could reach 83,300 tonnes. 

The partnership is aiming for a long-term minimum recycling/composting rate of 55 per cent by 2020 – 5 per cent above the national target.

Environment Minister Jane Kennedy, said:

“I can today announce the formal approval of Milton Keynes Council and Northamptonshire County Council’s bid for £138 million PFI credits to deliver new waste management infrastructures in their areas.

“This will create a real incentive for both the authorities and industry to work together to reduce waste and make better use of the waste that is produced, as well as reducing our impact on the environment.”

A notice to prospective bidders will be issued in the Official Journal of European Union shortly.  The climate change impacts of the proposed technologies will be assessed during the procurement process.

Notes to editors

  1. To date Defra has  committed over £1.88 billion to 32 projects, and there are an additional 11 projects in the application process.
  1. Municipal waste management statistics for England in 2007/08 were published by Defra on 6 November 2008.  The proportion of municipal waste being disposed of in landfill has decreased to 54.4 per cent (or 15.5 million tonnes).  The proportion of household waste being recycled or composted has increased to 34.5 per cent, from 30.5 per cent in 2006/07.
  1. The UK has been set targets to reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfill under the EU Landfill Directive. The UK is obliged to reduce the volume of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill to 75 per cent of the 1995 levels by 2010; 50per cent by 2013; and 35 per cent by 2020.
  1. In the Waste Strategy for England 2007, Defra published new national waste targets. These include higher targets for recycling and composting of household waste to at least 40 per cent by 2010; 45 per cent by 2015; and 50 per cent by 2020.
  1. The Environment Agency’s WRATE (Waste and Resources Assessment Tool for the Environment) tool was used to calculate the climate change impacts of the possible waste solution.  The reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent is compared to the do nothing landfill option.

End

Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960

Public enquiries: 08459 335577
News releases available on our website:
www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

Page published: 27 November 2008