Mersey waste contract faces legal challenge
Covanta Energy has submitted a legal challenge to Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority's decision to award a £1.2bn waste contract to a rival.
The case would be heard in the High Court.
Headed by SITA, the authority's preferred scheme is one that would see waste from the Liverpool city region transported to Teesside for processing.
Covanta had proposed an alternative plan in conjunction with Peel Energy which would have led to the construction of an energy from waste plant as part of the Ince Park development at Ellesmere Port, bringing investment and employment opportunities.
Merseyside Recyling & Waste Authority has already been urged to review its decision by Liverpool mayor Cllr Joe Anderson, Peel Group chairman John Whittaker and Andrew Miller, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston.
They say a rival proposal from US-based Covanta – which included a partnership with a division of the Peel Group – offered major economic development benefits for the North West.
The Ince Park project, of which the Energy from Waste plant is central, remains a key element in Atlantic Gateway, which spans the three Local Enterprise Partnership areas of Liverpool City Region, Cheshire & Warrington and Greater Manchester.
The projects within Atlantic Gateway are designed to allow the North West region to remain competitive and build on its existing strengths through the support of its partners in the public and private sector.
Covanta's legal challenge has been presented to the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority.
Quite right too! This is all wrong that something that will help the area so much whilst other European funding possibly being lost has not been seized! But has been given away! Also adds insult to injury that the local residents were for it and that Mersey waste will now add further insult in making us pay for our waste to be freighted to Teesside! Shocking!
By Local council tax payer
It should also be noted that this is most likely using inefficient out of date incineration technology to burn the waste just like was proposed for the Saddlebow Site in Kings Lynn. It’s about time local authorities look at alternatives to incineration that are cheaper, environmentally friendly and create jobs for local residents.
By Against Incineration
Wait till Local Authority proposes to build such a development near you then see if you still support it. The Politicians have made a short term decision based on their own survival as none of them wanted the plant in their borough where residents might hold them accountable at the next election.
By Anon
And so did a lot of others I know! How do you know it’s using out of date incineration have you studied what the spec is? Surely it would be the latest model and would have to meet air quality regs etc? This would have been closely monitored due to the way people worry about anything of this sort
By Well I wanted it
Surely burying it is no better?
By Well I wanted it
That’s odd Anon as was of the impression locals wanted it and whatever way you look at it massive loss for the area?
By Anon2
The interesting story here is that Covanta hasn’t managed to set a single brick in its doomed attempt to get a foothold in the UK waste market. Looks like Peel backed the wrong horse here and are throwing their toys out as a result.
By Waster