Energy from waste
Even after Hull and East Riding residents have reduced and recycled their waste as much as possible, a solution needs to be found to deal with what's left. Burying the same amount of waste in landfill sites is no longer an option. Therefore, the councils have to find a way to deal with the remaining rubbish.
Energy from waste can be extracted through the controlled burning at high termperatures of rubbish that hasn't been reused or recycled.
The heat generated from the process is used to power water boilers, which in turn produce steam that drives generators which produce electricity.
Energy from waste plant
Combustion reduces the waste to 10 per cent of its original volume and 25 per cent of its original weight. Once the waste has been burned and the energy extracted for beneficial use, much of the residue can be recycled.
Based on the response of the Hull and East Riding public to a consultation on how to deal with the region's waste - known as a Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) study.
- the councils have selected the option of at least 45 per cent recycling and composting, coupled with an energy from waste plant as the most safe, proven and productive method of dealing with the rubbish that's left over.
Energy from waste is proven worldwide as a means of dealing with household rubbish that can't be recycled. Thirty-six new energy from waste plants have been commissioned for construction in Europe in the next few years, giving further evidence of the reliability and effectiveness of the technology for disposing of household waste.
Several plants are already in operation in the UK including locations such as Nottingham, Coventry, London and Birmingham.
