Green New Deal for Manchester

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Greater Manchester has signed a landmark, 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) waste and recycling contract worth £3.8 billion with Viridor Laing Ltd.

The £640 million construction programme will create state-of-the-art recycling facilities and 5,000 new jobs, to deal with the 1.3 million tonnes of waste that Greater Manchester produces annually.

The deal means that by 2015, Greater Manchester will be able to recycle and compost at least 50 per cent of all waste and divert more than 75 per cent of area's waste away from landfill - the greatest amount of diversion of all local authorities across the UK.

Secretary of State for the Environment Hilary Benn said: "Diverting one million tonnes of waste through these world class waste facilities will be a major step in reaching our 2013 and 2020 landfill targets and play an important role in battling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions created by landfill. But it's not only the environmental benefits we should be celebrating. The creation of 5,000 new jobs in the North West is a boost for the regional economy at a welcome time."

The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) said households in the area will pay an extra £1 per week to support the programme, whereas the cost of doing nothing will amount to £2 a week per household, primarily through Landfill Tax and penalties.

Councillor Neil Swannick, Chair of the GMWDA and lead Labour member, said: "I am delighted that we have at last signed the contract with Viridor Laing. Greater Manchester's waste management solution is, I believe, the best for the environment and the local economy: saving natural resources, generating green electricity and creating jobs - a Green New Deal for Greater Manchester."

The contract will utilise a range of new technologies, including Mechanical Biological Treatment with Anaerobic Digestion, a Materials Recovery Facility and Combined Heat and Power; and Greater Manchester's network of 25 Household Waste Recycling Centres will be increased and upgraded.

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