Public given chance to hear about plans for city waste

Two companies are in the process of bidding for the Bradford and Calderdale waste contract which is expected to be awarded next year.

The project could provide a 170m capital investment in a new waste management plant on Bowling Back Lane.

There are worries about the impact of the development on the local community.

The main concerns are about the size of the building, the increase in traffic and the environmental impact.

The three sessions, organised by Bradford Council, will be held close to the site of a proposed new waste management facility at Bowling Back Lane.

Bradford Council says the new joint way of managing waste will reduce the financial burden for council tax payers in both authorities and will increase recycling and reduce the amount of environmentally damaging landfill.

Coun Ghazanfer Khaliq, Bradford Council's executive member for environment and sustainability, said: "The best way to deal with waste is to recycle it and use material that can't be recycled to produce energy.

"The new facility will enable up to 90 per cent of Bradford and Calderdale's waste to be diverted from landfill into recycling and electricity production.

"This is an excellent opportunity to move away from landfill and its associated environmental issues and to use waste to generate electricity."

People in Bradford will have the chance to view the proposals at a series of drop-in sessions held in the city

They will be held on Thursday, from 3.30pm to 8pm at Lower Fields School, Fenby Avenue; Thursday, November 11 2010, from 2pm to 8pm at Leeds Road Fire Station and Thursday, November 18, from 2pm to 8pm at Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road.