Go ahead given for Gloucestershire's waste project

Plans to burn waste in Gloucestershire which cannot be recycled have been given the go-ahead.

A meeting of the Conservative-controlled county council was told the "energy from waste" facility would be built on Javelin Park near Haresfield.

It is estimated the incinerator would generate enough electricity to power 28,000 homes and save the council £150m over 25 years.

Last year more than 5,000 people signed a petition opposing the plans.

Then the Friends of the Earth described the proposal as a "waste of money" and called for the council to adopt a zero waste policy.

'Controversial decision'

Two companies, Complete Circle and Urbaser with Balfour Beatty, have now been invited to refine their proposals for the incinerator.

Councillor Stan Waddington, cabinet member for environment and waste, said doing nothing and continuing to send waste to landfill sites would cost £659m over 25 years.

"This was a controversial decision to make but ultimately one we need to take - we cannot keep sending waste to landfill and we must find a solution that is affordable and sustainable.

"I would like to reassure everyone that we are looking at this with people's safety and health as a top priority.

"We've employed an international expert to advise us on the health implication of building a waste facility and we will be guided by him throughout," he added.

Councillors also gave their backing for a "major push" on recycling with aspirations to reach 70% by 2030.

Residual waste is what is left over from everything which can be reused, recycled or composted.