Chiefs discuss 'green waste' plant plans

'CLEAR COMMUNICATION NEEDED TO ALLAY FEARS'

- By JOHN GREENWOOD

PLANS to introduce a plant that would burn green waste at one of Calderdale Council's waste and recycling centres are expected to come before senior councillors before the end of the year.

Introducing a pyrolysis plant which would make biochar - must be financially sustainable with the hope it will then bring in cash and save on costs.

But scrutiny councillors, who have already considered the issue in a lengthy session, recommend clear messaging to the public including a "one page" type document to allay fears which might arise.

In particular that the process is not incineration and it would not be an incinerator, nor would potentially noxious materials be used in the plant, they said.

Atlas Mill at Brighouse is the centre identified as the likeliest site and a detailed crunching of the numbers will go before Cabinet councillors in a full business case as the council will have to borrow to fund the plant.

However, using green waste but likely also involving some cost of buying woodchip to ensure supply for the plant it could reduce the annual £240,000 cost of disposing of the borough's green waste and produce saleable commodities, among the financial benefits, the councillors heard.