Covanta Energy is proposing a new Energy from Waste facility near Middlewich to handle Cheshire’s non-recyclable waste.

The facility, at the Midpoint 18 Business Park, would provide up to 300 construction jobs at peak times, and around 50 permanent jobs when operational. It would handle waste from Cheshire that cannot be recycled or composted, producing energy, which will reduce the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Low-cost electricity from the plant will be offered to around 20,000 local homes, and steam will be exported to British Salt, a local neighbour and important local business. This will provide British Salt with an affordable source of energy, which in turn will reduce their carbon dioxide emissions significantly and help safeguard up to 125 local jobs.

Cheshire residents produce around 434,000 tonnes of household waste a year. Almost a third is now recycled or processed for compost, with a target of 54% by 2020. This still leaves almost half to be disposed of, ideally without landfill. This is in addition to all the waste that is produced by the many shops, offices and businesses in Cheshire. The proposal addresses the need to deal with this ‘residual’ waste, with the added benefit of generating electricity at the same time.

Community Newsletters have been produced to inform local residents about the proposal. Click on the links below to read the newsletters.

• Cheshire Energy-from-Waste Proposal Community Newsletter December 2009
• Cheshire Energy-from-Waste Proposal Community Newsletter March 2009
• Cheshire Energy-from-Waste Proposal Community Newsletter February 2008

Updates on Proposal