A Partnership has been formed between Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council and Luton Borough Council, with the aim of achieving the most cost effective and environmentally sustainable solution to treat waste in the future and the Bedfordshire Energy and Recycling (BEaR) Project has been set up to achieve this goal.

Members of the Executive Committee approved the BEaR Project Business Case this week (5th April 2010), which means that a competitive selection process for a long-term residual waste solution can now begin.
The decision took on even more importance after the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in his budget of 24 March that the Landfill Tax price escalator will increase by at least another year to 2014/15 where it will hit £80 per tonne rather than ending in 2013/14 at £72 per tonne as previously proposed.
As it is payable for every tonne of waste sent to landfill, any increase in landfill taxation has a significant impact on waste disposal services, especially those that rely upon landfill as the primary method of disposal.

The BEaR team expect to start a competitive selection process for the waste treatment contract in late spring 2010 and will consider all solutions and suggested locations proposed by the waste industry. No final decisions are expected to be made on the type of technology or location until 2012.

Regular updates on the progress of this important Project will be sent to your parish council, to ensure that you are kept fully informed with robust and reliable information. For more information and a copy of the BEaR Project Business Case please click HERE

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