Benefits

There are a number of significant local benefits that will come about as a result of the proposed EfW CHP facility.

Many of these benefits are long term and sustainable, and contribute significantly to the benefits of individuals and businesses in Plymouth. The main benefits are:

Waste Management benefits

• Having a clean, safe and reliable technology to stop around 200,000 tonnes of waste from households going to landfill every year
• Providing an alternative option to landfill for local businesses
• Recycling of around 57,000 tonnes of bottom ash for construction use every year
• Recovering of around 7,500 tonnes of metals for recycling

Energy benefits

• Providing lower cost heat and electricity to the Naval Base which is a major employer in Plymouth
• Potentially providing heat to local businesses and homes as part of a district heating scheme
• Replacing fossil fuels by the use of waste for making energy
• Saving the equivalent of around 73,000 tonnes of CO2 every year- this equals more than
  700 hectares of forest, the size of 1,000 football fields

Economy benefits

• Savings for council tax payers of more than £675 million over the 25-year life of the contract – when compared with the costs of continuing to landfill the waste
• The MOD, and thus the taxpayer, will benefit from reduced energy costs and the rent from the site
• Plymouth City Council will benefit from payment of rates

Employment benefits

• Creating an average of 159 direct jobs during the construction of the plant plus another 320 indirect jobs for support services such as catering, accommodation, etc.
• All construction activities offer significant employment prospects for the local community
• Creating 33 direct full time jobs during operation - where possible, staff will be recruited locally
• Creating another 70 indirect jobs during operation through companies offering
  support services (e.g. welding, industrial cleaning, maintenance works)

Community benefits

• MED have consulted with local residents and other interested parties about the North Yard Community Trust and Fund. Notes from the meeting, held in March, can be found here and a draft version of the NYCT Scheme Plan will be available for consultation soon.
• MVV will provide a community area in the administration building which will be available for local community use
• MVV will introduce a scheme for maintaining and improving Blackies Wood, for the benefit of the public

Education benefits

• We have employed a full-time Community Liaison Manager from the local area to work with the local community on waste management, recycling and waste reduction
• We are in the process of developing a full educational programme that will not only stand alone, as a resource for the wider community, but will also complement Plymouth City Council’s existing ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ education priorities. In addition, it will fit in with the objectives of the Devon Waste Education Strategy (2011-2014).
• MVV will work with local colleges and organisations to support local employment.