Backing for incinerator set to bring over 300 jobs to city

Critics claimed it would be an eyesore, create extra traffic and would smell but members of Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee yesterday unanimously approved plans submitted by Pennine Resource Recovery (PRR) for the centre to be built at Bowling Back Lane, which is currently used as a local authority-run waste facility.

The centre will boost Bradford and Calderdale’s recycling rates and produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes, says PRR.

It will also see 300 jobs created during construction and a further 80 permanent jobs during operations. Up to £50,000 a year will be donated to a community fund.

The facility will extract valuable recyclable materials from Bradford and Calderdale’s household waste before using the remainder to produce electricity to be supplied to the National Grid. In doing so,it will divert over 90 per cent of Bradford and Calderdale’s waste away from landfill each year.

Mark Tribe, PRR project director said: “Our project will bring great economic and environmental benefits to Bradford and Calderdale and we’re delighted councillors have recognised this.

“No matter how environmentally responsible we are, our society will always generate waste.

“The resource recovery facility will ensure we deal with waste in a sustainable way and avoid sending it to environmentally damaging and increasingly costly landfill sites.

“This decision is great news for Bradford and Calderdale. The scheme has been specifically designed for the area and we will be working very closely with local training and employment agencies to ensure that local people across both districts are able to benefit from the employment and training opportunities on offer.”

It is anticipated that construction will begin next spring at the Bowling Back Lane site where Bradford Council’s existing waste transfer station currently stands. The facility is expected to be operational by 2016.

The facility will include a new visitor and education centre that will be used to encourage people to manage their waste more sustainably.