In April 2009, Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) signed a 25 year Private Finance Initiative waste and recycling contract with the Viridor Laing consortium worth a total of £3.8 billion. The contract will incorporate 43 facilities and utilise a range of technologies.
Under the contract residual waste that cannot be recycled, instead of being sent to landfill, will be processed into SRF for use by INEOS Chlor, a major chemicals producer, to provide energy and steam for its plant at Runcorn, Cheshire. The fuel will feed a new CHP plant, which will produce enough electricity and steam to replace around 10% of the Company's total energy currently generated from non-renewable sources. It is anticipated that further supplies of SRF will be secured from other waste disposal authorities, which will increase this figure to around 20%.
Subject to meeting good quality CHP efficiency criteria, the CHP plant will benefit from the RO and from enhanced capital allowances for eligible equipment used for the combustion of SRF. There are other Section 36 planning applications under consideration by DECC that involve the use of waste derived fuels like SRF10
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10 As at May 2010