Sponsored by
Leeds: £550m city incinerator plan a step closer UPDATED
Plans to build an incinerator in Leeds capable of burning 180,000 tonnes of rubbish a year have taken a step forward.
Officials at Leeds City Council have chosen the company they want to see build the 125m-long, 42m-high recycling and energy recovery facility – nicknamed “the greenhouse” – in Cross Green.
Click here to register and have your say on this story and others that matter to you
The council’s executive board will be asked to rubber-stamp the selection of the firm, Veolia, at a meeting next month.
Coun Mark Dobson, executive member for environmental services, said: “Continuing to send rubbish to rot in the ground is not an option.
“It’s not good for the climate and it costs the city millions in landfill taxes which are rising each year.”
The private finance initiative (PFI)-funded incinerator, on the former Cross Green Market site at Pontefract Lane, would be designed to virtually eliminate the rubbish Leeds sends to landfill.
Leeds currently recycles 40 per cent of waste but 200,000 tonnes goes to landfill.
The new facility would have the capacity to process 180,000 tonnes of rubbish a year, but it is anticipated only 164,000 tonnes would be burned – with the rest being recycled.
The council said the cost of building and running the project - £550m over 25 years - was £200m less than the council would have to pay in landfill taxes.
It would also help meet the target of recycling half of all waste by 2020.
The cut in carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the reduction in landfill would be equivalent to taking 29,000 cars of the road each year.
And it would produce enough electricity to power 20,000 homes.
The building would be a glass-sided, wooden framed structure with a “living green wall” of plants and viewing galleries for the public to see how it works.
Neil Evans, the council’s director of environmental services, said: “While we believe we can increase our recycling, we also believe without this residual waste facility we would have to continue to send thousands of tonnes to landfill.”
Subject to all the necessary approvals, building would start in 2013, with an opening date of 2015 or early 2016.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 25 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
eastleeds
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 11:00 AMWhy has a company with previous convictions in the UK and worldwide courts for release of toxic fumes into atmosphere ,illegal storage of chemicals , onsite fires and several breaches of health and safety inc death of employees been not only allowed to participate in the contract negotiations for the incinerator but actually been promoted as the preferred bidder by the Leeds city council .?
Abdul-K
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 10:14 PMThis is what I mean by the council facing legal objection from human rights groups. "Al-Haq has instructed Van den Biesen Boesveld advocates, Amsterdam, to submit a formal objection against the decision of Stadsregio Arnhem Nijmegen, a Dutch local authority, to award a one billion Euro public transport concession to Hermes, the Dutch subsidiary of French multinational company VeoliaTransdev. The objection is based on Veolia’s involvement in Israel’s violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)." Full story here http:tinyurl.com5rkm7br
Abdul-K
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 09:07 PMThe council will have to live with the fact that Veolia is helping with illegal colonisation of Palestinian land (see http:www.leedspsc.org.uk?page_id=317 ). There is a massive boycott movement against Veolia yet our council ignores these facts. Leeds city council and now us tax payers will helping a company complicit in crimes against Palestinian. Boycott is biting Veolia as it has lost many contracts worldwide, and is struggling financially with plans to stop operation in 37 countries. This put a question over Veolia's future especially as this contract is for 25 years. The council will be open to legal challenge from campaigners of Palestinian Human Rights. According to Wall Street Journal "Veolia Posts Loss, Plans Shake-Up" ( http:online.wsj.comarticleSB10001424053111903454504576487392247095536.html?KEYWORDS=GERALDINE+AMIEL ) "Veolia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Antoine Frerot plans to halt operations in at least 37 countries" http:www.bloomberg.comnews2011-10-07veolia-may-add-to-write-downs-struggle-to-sell-assets-ubs-says.html
Michael Ryan
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 03:50 PMHave White Rose still got an incinerator in Leeds?
Michael Ryan
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 03:03 PMWhy isn't Leeds City Council checking plasma gasification as a cheaper and safer alternative to incineration of waste? Planning permission was granted a short while ago for a 300,000 tonnes per annum plasma gasification plant by Teesside Council.
helenleeds2
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 08:03 PMEast leeds - in an ideal world we wouldnt need incineration but there is not a realistic alternative as yet, if we are to meet the targets set by the EU. Landfill tax will only decrease if the government policy changes not if recycling goes up. I suspect if anything the recycling targets will be simply increased even further thus necessitating the requirement for landfill tax.
Justin Keenan
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 05:58 PMI am anti PFI in principle and am reasonably sceptical of this development but there does appear to be a lot of misinformation being bandied about. I'm still sitting on the fence and keeping an open mind. The plans for the incinerator are far from the "large grey featureless industrial unit with a large scale smoke stack" as described by #eastleeds. Take a look at news.bbc.co.uk, they have taken the time to include the artists impressions of the plans in their article. You will see quite a modern looking curvaceous building. The other proposed sites, they are largely dependent on the results of this. i.e. if this gets approval the other proposals become redundant. As for the implying that Sheffield incinerating waste from elsewhere means that the Sheffield taxpayer is subsidising the operation is just plain wrong. Sheffield makes a profit from other councils by incinerating their waste. If the same happened in Leeds it would be a bonus to us and not a burden!
eastleeds
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 03:57 PMjoin our Facebook page and help fight against this injustice ..........http:www.facebook.comprofile.php?id=100002741800591.
Titch
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 02:52 PMIn response to helenleeds2 the statement I made regarding the number of incinerators in East Leeds is correct. There are two working incinerators there now, Biffa have applied for planning permission for another huge commercial one on the Skelton Grange site and now it is proposed to put this incinerator on the Cross Green Wholesale Market site. Unless there is a drastic change of heart there will be FOUR incinerators working 24 hours a day 7 days a week in this area.
eastleeds
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 01:33 PMin response to Helen . . . the answer may possibly incineration however the scale,size,location,method of finance and choice of operating company is wrong . the landfill tax will decrease as recycling goes up as the tonnage will be less that is sent to landfill . the council tax issue must also be considered as once the project is running leeds tax payers will be forced to bail it out like other councils using PFI loans to the tune of 4 billion last year so the possible increase in council tax is not deleted by not sending to landfill.
David Smith
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 01:12 PMTo whom it may concern Here are 27 Objections to incineration. This list is by no means exhaustive. David Smith Leeds Green Party 1)Incineration burns material that could be recycled. 2)Leeds should recycle all 7 main types of plastic and glass. There is some debate as to the best method for processing textiles. 3)Incineration depresses recycling rates, several UK and EU studies have shown this. 4)The company chosen for the 25year PFI contract can only make profit if sufficient waste is burnt. The Sheffield incinerator recently had to apply for planning permission to burn waste from outside of Sheffield. Therefore the taxpayer may end up subsidising a company to burn waste from outside of Leeds. 5)Recycling provides more jobs than incineration and helps reduce the UK trade deficit. 6)Veolia have nearly been bankrupt within the last 10 years. Veolia is suffering from financial problems and recently had to end operations in 37 countries! Its share price currently lower than the last time it nearly became bankrupt. 7)Veolia have a dubious safety record. Within the past 10 years several UK Veolia employees have been injured and two have died. They have been fined almost £500000 in the UK within the last 10 years and additional fines across the world. 8)Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) and fluefilter remains will be produced. 10-20% of material after incineration is still landfilled or has to processed further within Yorkshire. This involves extra transport or landfill. 9)Incineration will create particulate matter (PM) , NO2, Dioxins and various nano-particles which affects human health. UK resident life expectancy is shortened by several months due to PM. 10)Several studies have shown increased toxicity or amounts of carcinogenic compounds near incinerators. 11)Recycling rates in Leeds are 40%, this is woeful compared to similar sized cities. The best in the UK is currently a 70% recycling rate. 12)A food waste collection was initiated within Rothwell and has proved successful. This should be widened across the city to create economies of scale. The food remains should be used to generate power andor compost. 13)Less than 50% of UK councils have a weekly black bin collection. This black bin could easily be changed to a green collection. 14)The council have secured £68M for a final waste solution, surely this money could be better spent on Anaerobic Digestion, Mechanical sorting plants or increasing the range of recyclables. 15)The incinerator(s) will be 40m high with a 65m tall chimney. They will be visible from parts of Beeston, Belle Isle, Burmatofts, Cavalier Hill, City Centre, Halton, Holbeck, Hunslet, Osmonthorpe, Middleton, Richmond Hill, Robin Hood, Rothwell, Temple Newsham, Woodhouse Hill and elsewhere. 16)The online petition has several hundred signatures and many groups oppose incineration. http:tinyurl.comleedsincinerator 17)While the incinerator will generate electricity it produces twice as much Co2 as burning fossil fuels. There are much cleaner ways to generate energy. In addition landfill sites, while not ideal, often burn the methane produced from waste. Ideally Anaerobic Digestion etc should be used to process food or other wastes. Recycling also reduces the CO2 involved with miningdrilling. Organisations like CO2 sense and the carbon trust could finance these projects. 18)The incinerator will not help the council’s commitment to reduce C02 by 40% by 20201 compared to 20089. 19)UK & EU pollution and environmental legislation are becoming more stringent and could easily undermine a 25 year PFI incinerator. 20)Veolia has been involved with projects within Israel. The worldwide Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel has many supporters. Within Leeds the Palestine Soldarity Campaign (PSC) has been vocal. 21)PFI deals are not cost effective in the long term cost more than if the government directly borrowed the money. 22)Labour currently have the majority in the council. Despite opposing incineration while in opposition they are currently supporting it. 23)There is now a fight to stop a 2nd incinerator proposed by Biffa. 24)The bidding process is down to two bidders. Certain councillors fear they will be sued. However Councils in Hull and East Riding found last minute reasons. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has even prepared a £20000 fund to fight a county council decision to build an incinerator. Several councils have recently found reasons to prevent incineration including: Cheshire East and Nottingham. 26)Traffic will be focussed on to one location. 27) It maybe a weak argument but incinerators are planned for Harrogate and Bradford, therefore there maybe overcapacity in the waste network.
helenleeds2
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 12:24 PMin response to Chris R's and East Leeds' comments, you are both very critical about the proposed solution, but you fail to address how the Council should deal with the waste? I'm sure you'd be the first to moan if the council stuck up its council tax bills because it failed to do anything about the rising cost of landfill tax in a time when poeple are losing jobs etc!
helenleeds2
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 12:16 PMin response to titch's comments "East Leeds, where this monstrosity is to be dumped, already has 2 incinerators, Biffa have applied for planning permission to build a 360,000 tonne one on the Skelton Grange site as well and now this!" This statement is incorrect as Biffa has applied for planning application but this has not been granted as yet!
eastleeds
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 11:18 AMIn reply to chris r I have not only read the article but have followed the project for several years and can easily inform you there will be no sweetener for the local residents . The power produced if any as the council are hard to draw a definitive answer on this is produced it will go straight into the national grid not the local network . as for the super filtered gasses the company chosen to run this plant have already been convicted and fined in UK courts for offences such as release of toxic fumes into local environment,illegal and incorrect storage of chemicals causing fire ,fires at similar plants of operation the list goes on and on yet still leeds city council approve of veolia while other councils all over the uk and ending their contracts with this company . The building wont be pleasant it will be as pictured a large grey featureless industrial unit with a large scale smoke stack to emit the gasses so dont be expecting a replica of temple newsome house as im afraid you will be disapointed . As for jobs and employment the plant will require specialist skills to run so inline with other sites this form of employment will be drafted in from non local areas , nor will the plant attract business to the area as i have spoken to local members of the business community and they are very upset by the placement and in some cases are already looking to move to another part of leeds . Cost efficient ? PFI deals are a swindle all the way to the bank with the public been made as guarantees for large scale long term contract loans so private companies can use the funds to make profit . leeds city council are on a fixed contract to supply a certain tonnage of waste per month and if they fail to do this they are still charged for the full amount regardless for the life of the contract . Also as recycling rises and less waste is available veolia will apply to get the contract changed as they did in Sheffield within 3 years to start importing rubbish from other areas so essentially it will become a profit business for veolia built from funds secured in the name of leeds tax payers . the residents dont want it local business doesnt want it local councilors dont want it hilary benn leeds mp doesnt want it its a financial disaster waiting to happen (PFI schemes were bailed out by uk tax payers last year to the amount of 4 billion pounds) its already outdated technology VEOLIA have an horrendious record running these plants not only in the UK but worldwide so where are the benefits chris ?
eastleeds
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 10:58 AMin response to chris r not only have i read the article i have followed the project for several years and will inform you that there will be no sweetener for the local resident neither will there be super filtered gases especially when the company chosen to run this horrendous plant is already convicted in the uk courts of offences including release of toxic fumes in to local environment , unlawful and incorrect storage of chemical waste ,on site fires at similar plants etc etc etc . As for its design it will be a large featureless gray unit with an enormous smoke stack so it wont be very attractive at all , also after talking to many of the local businesses about the project most are wanting to move away so there is not going to be the influx of trade at all nor will it bring employment as the specialist skills to run the plant will be outsourced inline with the example set by other plants they run . With the rise of recycling
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.