Waste services procurement FAQs

Waste services procurement FAQs

• Waste facilities

  What new facilities will be built in north London?

  We are in the middle of a procurement process which is based upon an output specification meaning that we have detailed the performance we expect the bidders to meet, but have not dictated how they should do this, i.e. what facilities they should build. The reference project (see process questions for information on reference projects) in our Outline Business Case (OBC) showed that our requirements could be met by:

  • a substantial upgrade of existing ‘Household Waste Recycling Centres’ (HWRC's - sometimes called ’civic amenity’sites) and by providing up to four new centres across north London;
  • a new materials recycling facility to sort metal, plastics, glass, paper and cardboard so that they can be recycled;
  • composting and anaerobic digestion facilities (anaerobic digestion is the process that turns biodegradable waste into biogas which can be used to create electricity);
  • two mechanical biological treatment plants to treat waste which cannot be recycled to create Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF);
  • a combined heat and power plant to utilise the SRF instead of fossil fuels; and
  • a sustainable transport solution involving rail and/ or water transport.

  As a guide for residents we have put together a booklet which provides images and information about modern waste facilities. A copy of the booklet is available here.Since the OBC was produced for our procurement we have announced LINK the three possible locations for the proposed power plants that are being put forward by the fuel use bidders to burn the SRF; none of the locations is in north London.

  Why were those specific facilities put forward over others?

  An in-depth analysis of the different options for managing waste in north London was carried out (see section 4 of the OBC). A wide variety of possible approaches were considered including 'do minimum,' incineration solutions, a variety of Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) processes and higher recycling options.

  Nineteen different options or ‘scenarios’ were reviewed .These options were subjected to analysis which assessed factors including performance, cost, sustainability, nuisance and risk. For a full list of assessment criteria used for the options analysis please refer to the OBC.

  The reference project that was chosen was the one that came out strongest in the analysis, providing the best prospect for a sustainable and cost effective solution.

  Where can I find out more about different types of waste facility?

  As a guide we have put together a booklet which provides images and information about modern waste facilities, including MBT.A copy of the booklet is available here (your Guide to Waste Disposal).

• Sites for facilities

  Why can't the new facilities go on existing sites?

  Because we need to manage a greater proportion of the waste that we handle within London than we do at the moment this means building new waste facilities within north London. There is insufficient space on the sites currently used by the Authority – Edmonton EcoPark in Enfield, Hornsey Street in Islington and Hendon in Barnet to fit all the new facilities that are needed.We have concluded that we need a need one additional site for waste management facilities and one potential replacement site for the existing facility at Hendon. In addition, the we have determined that we potentially need up to four additional sites for new Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). In identifying suitable sites we are keen to minimise the amount of land that is required and to locate new facilities in a way that delivers the best environmental solution and the best prospects for achieving planning permission.

  Why can't you compulsorily purchase the land and then build your facilities on it rather than looking for new sites?

  Compulsory purchase processes are generally a matter of last resort requiring the Authority to demonstrate that there is no reasonable alternative. This process can involve significant compensation to current land owners, and even when justified, can delay projects.

• MBT and incineration

  How is Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) different from incineration?

  Incineration usually involves little treatment of waste whereas MBT facilities involve both the mechanical and biological treatment of waste. Mechanical processes, for example, are used to separate organic-rich waste such as kitchen or garden waste from other material like paper and plastics.

  Incineration usually involves little treatment of waste whereas MBT facilities involve both the mechanical and biological treatment of waste. Mechanical processes, for example, are used to separate organic-rich waste such as kitchen or garden waste from other material like paper and plastics.

  The organic-rich content may then be further treated at an Anaerobic Digestion facility which can generate green electricity and reduce the biological activity in the organic waste.

  Depending on what is required, MBT processes can also produce a stable and relatively dry fuel for use in a variety of facilities.

  What comes out of MBT in terms of fuel is typically half of what is put into it. This is because moisture is removed and materials that can be recycled are separated out as part of the treatment process. One of the benefits of this is s that fuel use facilities can be designed to take a much smaller amount of material to generate energy compared to an approach which is based upon incineration. The fuel can also be easily moved and stored, so that power and heat generation can happen close to where there is a potential demand (for maximum environmental gain) rather than close to where people live and produce the waste.

  Where can I find out more about different types of waste facility?

  As a guide we have put together a booklet which provides images and information about modern waste facilities, including MBT. A copy of the booklet is available for download from this site. (Your Guide to Waste Disposal).