A proposal for a series of waste plants in Basildon, Rivenhall and Colchester has been met with controversy after a new document revealed the initial plans.
Essex County Council will launch a consultation detailing where the county’s waste is being sent and how best to manage it. County Hall has requested that companies begin submitting proposals for ways to better handle household black bag waste. The winning scheme will be selected by the council to receive a £100million in private grant funding.
Initially reports indicated that just one major waste processing facility, which would encompass recycling, treatment, composting and energy recovery would be approved for Courtauld Road in Basildon. However, a new document shows that several facilities and site locations are now being considered to handle municipal solid waste as well as commercial and industrial waste.
All three proposed sites are being met with disapproval from local residents, environmental groups and politicians. So far, 5,000 campaigners have joined the newly formed group ‘Don’t’ Dump on Basildon”, which is being backed by Echo. Back in 2007, a 300,000 tonne capacity plant at Stanway Hall Quarry was given the green light, despite protests from local residents.
Earlier in March, planning inspectors approved a plant at Rivenhall Airfield after locals launched an aggressive campaign against it, citing the local environment would suffer should the plant be built in the area. Controversy surrounds a large majority of the proposals including a mechanical and biological treatment plant that would compress waste and a host of regeneration projects.
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