South Wales Evening Post - 15 March 2006
The controversial waste facility at Crymlyn Burrows will not be used to deal with Swansea's mounting rubbish crisis because of political opposition to incineration, it has been revealed.
Tenders for Swansea's 140,000 tonnes of rubbish are expected to be submitted to Swansea Council in the next month, but Crymlyn Burrows has already been ruled out as an option.
A council spokeswoman confirmed: "There are no plans to use the incinerator at Neath Port Talbot."
She added that any long-term strategy would provide the best deal for residents.
The spokeswoman continued: "Swansea has started the procurement process for a long-term waste disposal solution that is in the best interests of the city."
The £32 million site has been dogged by controversy since opening in January 2003.
Protesters have fought against it for years saying it could cause health problems.
Those claims have always been denied by management and the plant has to adhere to strict anti-pollution rules.
It was out of action for 18 months after a fire, and Neath Port Talbot Council was forced to step in and take control after the original operator, HLC (Neath Port Talbot), was put into administration because of spiralling debts.
A bid to take Swansea's waste failed last year.
Swansea Council was forced to close its own Tir John landfill and Crymlyn Burrows made it onto a shortlist.
The Post revealed that the tender would have cost taxpayers an extra £38 per tonne.
Instead, the firm that deals with the county's rubbish chose to sign contracts with landfill operators in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire at an extra cost of around £22 per tonne.
Those deals come to an end in November, but they can be extended.Swansea Council is currently looking at a long-term waste management solution, which could cost £500 million over the next 25 years.
Neath Port Talbot Council, which runs the Crymlyn Burrows facility, is not expected to put in a bid for the contract.
Swansea Council's cabinet member for environment John Hague said: "The only thing I can say is that Swansea Council was against any form of incineration of any kind.
"That was part of the reason for not accepting the tender."
