W2R Blog

The purpose of this blog is to keep you updated on the development of proposals to develop an Energy from Waste facility. Over the coming weeks and months I will be providing updates on the latest news and answers to questions that you might have. Where possible I have provided links to other resources you might find useful.

Looking to the future the county council remains committed to being open and honest with local residents around Four Ashes. I sincerely hope this ‘blog’ will play an important role in ensuring you have access to useful information.

If you have any questions about these proposals then please email comment@staffsprojectw2r.info. I will try to respond to the most frequently asked questions in future entries.

July 2009 – Energy from Waste race narrows to final two

Staffordshire’s waste chiefs have narrowed down to two the shortlist of companies vying to build the county’s new energy from waste plant – and the county’s new top team, the Cabinet, has given the move their backing.

International environmental experts MVV Umwelt GmbH and Veolia ES Aurora Ltd have made it through to the heavy weight final in the race to run the prestigious project.

It’s all part of Staffordshire’s 'Zero waste to landfill' strategy, which is focusing on recycling as much domestic rubbish as possible, and turning the residual waste left over into energy.

The Staffordshire approach has already received a massive £122.4m in funding approval from the Government and been given the green light by the Audit Commission as being the clear winner in prudent management of tax payers cash.

The council got planning permission in November last year for the new building on the Four Ashes industrial estate in the south of Staffordshire.

The team expect the plant to generate enough power for over 25,000 homes – and are working on deals to deliver surplus hot water to local industrial and commercial users - getting even more value from the project.

The shortlist contractors will continue to work with Project W2R to refine their proposals further. The successful contractor is expected to be selected Summer 2010.