Staffordshire signs waste deal with Veolia

Staffordshire County Council has officially confirmed that Veolia Environmental Services (UK) will run the county's energy from waste project as part of a 25 year Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

The contract which is expected to save Staffordshire taxpayers more than £250 million over 25 years has been signed by the leader of the county council, Philip Atkins and is the largest contract that the county council has ever entered into.

Veolia was announced as the 'preferred bidder' in May.

Planning permission for the plant on the Four Ashes industrial estate in the south of Staffordshire has been secured by the county council.

The plant will generate enough power for more than 32,000 homes - and it will create 40 new jobs new permanent jobs as well as many more during the construction.

It is part of Staffordshire's 'Zero Waste to Landfill' strategy which aims to protect taxpayers from rising environmental and financial costs of landfill.

The project has received Government backing to the tune of £122.4 million in recognition of the contribution it will make to national targets for reducing landfill.

It has also been given the green light by the Audit Commission for its prudent management of taxpayers' cash.