Hampshire County Councillors could herald in a new era of green power for the north of the county when they make their decision on Wednesday 17 November on a planning application for a new energy from waste incinerator. Described by the government as 'green power', it is proposed on the site of the previous incinerator near Chineham, and is the first of three new incinerators proposed for the county.

The application seeks permission for the building of a 90,000 tonne per annum capacity plant, disposing of the waste at the same time as allowing for the generation of 7 MW of electricity to the Grid, sufficient to supply over 7,000 homes.

It is to be developed on the basis of the total removal of the existing incinerator and its replacement with a new structure. The site off the A.33 is bordered on one side by a sewage treatment works with open countryside to the south. The design of the building has been influenced by the comments of a local contact group as part of a consultation process.

Concerns over its environmental impact have been addressed by the Environment Agency which has undertaken a thorough review of the technical process, the local operating conditions and the results of many other studies. Even in a worst case scenario, the findings are that the plant represents no significant risk to health.

"In everyday language, this means it is safe" says John Collis, Project Director of Hampshire Waste which is seeking planning approval as the waste recycling and disposal contractor. "I can do no better than repeat the findings of the Government which show that:

'Energy from waste incineration is a modern robust waste management technology which helps to protect the environment. Recovering energy is a valuable side benefit which offsets the cost of processing waste and helps to conserve fossil fuels as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Traffic is a bigger contributor of pollution than energy from waste incineration'".

On the issue of lorry movements, John Collis has confirmed that there will be no significant change to the current level of traffic in the area, for the lorries that will in future deliver to the new facility are now delivering their waste to the transfer station in Wade Road.

The planning decision takes place at a time when 'Going for Green' are promoting their waste message supported by the Government. The campaign follows the thinking in the Governments draft waste strategy, "A Way with Waste" published this July. The blueprint document shows that what the Government is proposing for England and Wales over the next 20 years is what has already been developed and implemented in Hampshire over the past five years.

It endorses the principles of Project Integra, proposing that an integrated approach is the way ahead. This puts the emphasis on recycling, composting and recovery of energy from waste through incineration, with landfill only as the last option.

This has already been welcomed as good news by Councillor Varden, Chairman of Hampshire County Council's Public Protection Committee. He said: "I am pleased to see Hampshire's approach in pursuing an integrated waste management strategy has been recognised and endorsed by the government. We shall continue to develop our strategy in line with these recommendations."

Too much rubbish is still being generated in Hampshire as well as the country at large - on average over a tonne of waste per year by each household. Project Integra's War on Waste campaign, Going for Green and the Government's Are you doing your bit campaign, are all asking people to think more about what waste they produce, how they can recycle, and how they can influence others. It means cutting back on the waste we produce in the first place, recycling as much as possible and buying recycled products.

The scale of the problem is highlighted by the fact that the national average recycling rate is less than 8%. This compares to 21% in Hampshire where under Project Integra, the county, district and unitary authorities have worked together with the waste recycling and disposal contractor, Hampshire Waste.

The successful recycling rate is largely due to the rise of kerbside collections of dry recyclable materials - paper, card, plastic bottles and cans - which are separated out by the householder from the normal black bag rubbish. In Hampshire, some 75% of homes now have such a scheme and the numbers continue to rise.

On the recycling of green garden waste, Project Integra is once again leading the field with the development of centralised composting schemes. Over the past three years Hampshire Waste has processed 150,000 tonnes of green garden waste - cuttings, mowings and discarded plants - to produce 50,000 tonnes of organic soil conditioner marketed under the name of Pro-Grow. It is well used by gardeners, farmers, landscapers and organic growers.

Yet despite all of this, Hampshire still has a major problem. Landfill in the county for household waste is running out and its demise is now part of government policy. The Government's answer is the same as that being pursued in Hampshire, namely to place a much greater reliance on energy recovery incinerators, such as the three plants proposed for Hampshire, one of which is to serve the north. So Hampshire Waste is not alone in its approach to energy recovery incineration. It is very much in line with current thinking both in this country and aboard.

When Hampshire County Council and the districts agreed their long term strategy for waste to take the county well into the next century, it was the biggest investment and biggest decision ever made on behalf of the people of Hampshire. It is now seen by Government to be the way to Go for Green.

11 November 1999