GOVERNMENT GREEN LIGHT FOR PORTSMOUTH ERI

Hampshire Waste Services, the county's waste recycling and disposal contractor, has confirmed its delight that the energy recovery incinerator at Quartremaine Road in Portsmouth has been given the green light today by Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

The decision to build an urgently needed incinerator at Copnor was passed to the Government last year following a four week Public Inquiry which heard the views of developers, campaigners, residents and councillors.

This energy recovery incinerator is designed to process waste arising in Portsmouth and the surrounding districts. There are two other incinerators planned for Hampshire. The first, near Basingstoke, is currently under construction. The second, at Marchwood near Southampton was given the go ahead following a Judicial Review which found in favour of the developer. Construction start at Marchwood is imminent.

Forming an important part of Project Integra, the integrated waste strategy and partnership for the county, the incinerators will dispose of those materials left over once re-use and recycle has taken place.

The site had housed a rubbish incinerator for many years until it was decommissioned in 1991. Portsmouth's new incinerator will have the capacity to recover 165,000 tonnes of rubbish per year, which would otherwise go to landfill, into 14 megawatts of electricity. Supplied to the national grid this will power more than 14,000 local homes.

Says John Collis, director of Hampshire Waste Services: "Landfill sites are rapidly running out in the county. We have to look for other alternatives. The strategy for Hampshire relies on a three pronged approach - recycling, where we have achieved some of the best levels in the entire country, reduced landfill, and incineration which recovers rubbish and converts it to electricity.

"We are delighted with this decision. It was very helpful to have previously received IPC authorisation from the Environment Agency, giving a clear steer on an issue which we know is a top priority for local people, that the plant will be safe. Onyx Hampshire, the operating company for Hampshire Waste Services will now make an application under the IPPC scheme."

Hampshire Waste Services will now proceed with the development of the final engineering designs. The build and commissioning programme will cost between £30 and £40 million and is expected to span a period of 28 months, once the contractors have commenced on site.

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Issued by: Julie Fuge, Polymedia 01329 66319

For further information contact: John Collis 01962 764000

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