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07 February 2011
The process of identifying the contractor who will deliver
facilities to treat 20,000 tonnes of food waste collected by
Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils is now under way.
A notice has been published in the Official Journal of the European
Union (OJEU) announcing that Zero Waste: Edinburgh and Midlothian
are seeking to procure anaerobic digestion facilities to treat food
waste.
Anaerobic digestion (AD) recovers value from food and similar
biodegradable waste through a contained and carefully controlled
composting process. It produces a biogas which can be used to
generate renewable energy and 'digestate' which can be used as soil
improver or fertiliser.
The procurement of the AD facility marks a significant step towards
a zero waste future. At the moment the majority of food waste
collected in the area is sent to landfill. This is not a
sustainable practice as it contributes to climate change and is a
waste of a valuable resource.
The facility will enable both Councils to meet the requirements of
the Scotland's Zero Waste Plan regarding landfill bans on
source-segregated food waste and recyclables that are expected to
come into force in 2015. It is expected that the AD contract will
be awarded by the end of 2012 and that the facilities would be
operational in advance of 2015.
A separate procurement process for additional residual (mixed)
waste treatment facilities is likely to commence later in the year
in order to be ready in time for a proposed ban on the disposal of
biodegradable waste to landfill, planned to be introduced in
2017.
For full details of the OJEU notice please click here:
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB087637
ENDS
Notes to editors:
All public sector contracts above a certain threshold must be
published in the OJEU.
20,000 tonnes is the quantity of uneaten food and food scraps
expected to be collected by the Councils each year.
When food waste is buried in a landfill site it produces methane, a
greenhouse gas over 20 times more powerful at heating the
atmosphere than carbon dioxide. It's now widely accepted that these
are the main gases that contribute to climate change.
A preferred site for the facilities has been purchased by the
Councils near Millerhill in Midlothian. An application for planning
permission in principle for this site, including permission for a
30,000 tonne per year AD facility will be submitted by the spring
of 2011.
Alternative locations will be considered if they can be shown to
offer better value for money but it is envisaged that the
Millerhill site would still be the transfer point for all the food
waste.