MILTON Keynes Council is to divert 50,000 tonnes of household waste from landfill and into recycling and energy recovery from 2013.
A new waste treatment contract has been signed with recycling firm FCC Environment which will process the waste at its new materials recycling facility in Bletchley. Materials that can’t be recycled will be used to produce a waste-derived fuel called solid recovered fuel.
Andy Hudson, the council’s head of environment and waste, said that the borough is focused on reducing waste to landfill. “This new contract with FCC Environment will help significantly with Milton Keynes’ ambition of zero waste to landfill.”
FCC signalled its intention to invest in various recycling projects earlier this year. The programme will include materials recycling facilities, mechanical biological treatment plants, anaerobic digestion plants and refuse-derived fuel manufacturing facilities.
The company has operated the Milton Keynes waste disposal contract for a number of years explained Gordon Fergus, head of commercial development.
“However, we now have the capability to divert that waste away from landfill and into recycling and energy recovery. FCC Environment is investing heavily in recycling infrastructure so that we can support both councils and businesses in their drive to increase recycling, reduce waste disposal costs and increase environmental sustainability.”
