Under the contract, Veolia Environmental Services will combine recycling with energy recovery, generating financial savings and environmental benefits for the UK community over the contract period.
Through front-end pre-mechanical treatment, 28,000 metric tons of recyclable ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics and other materials will be extracted from the residual waste, providing a beneficial boost to recycling rates.
The remaining 352,000 metric tons of residual waste will be processed using high-efficiency energy recovery technology, producing 26 MW of electricity for the National Grid - sufficient to power 50,000 homes, with the further potential to distribute heat to suitable local users.
An extensive consultation and community engagement process was undertaken as part of the development of the design concept and development proposals.
In addition to significant employment and economic activity created during the construction period, 52 long-term jobs will be created for the period of operation.
"We offer a sustainable approach to increase recycling and extract value from residual waste by converting it into energy; we develop high performance facilities that minimize environmental impact and are well-integrated into the local environment."