A 'green' food waste facility has been met with support but also 'intransigence and procrastination' because of the planning process says the project's leader.

Keith Warburton, chief executive officer of Stenergy, expressed frustration over the planning process for the controversial food waste plant at Hindlip, near Worcester as pressure mounts on councils to use alternative forms of energy. 

His comments come after Stenergy Ltd in Worcester has revealed the next steps for its 'pioneering' food waste green gas to grid biomethane facility at Hindlip, near Worcester.

An initial round of pre-planning applications took place in early 2023 and a planning application was submitted in August last year.

Mr Warburton said the Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had made their position on food waste 'absolutely crystal clear by publishing the food waste disposal hierarchy', including the need to prioritise the 'separate collection of domestic food waste'.

He argues the scheme will mean this 'energy-rich commodity' is not wasted (as the waste would otherwise go to landfill and incineration instead).

Mr Warburton added: "Over ten million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the UK, with much sent to landfill.

"Separate collections of food waste from every household will prevent contamination of other waste which could be usefully recycled, as well as ensuring that food waste can be sent to anaerobic digestion facilities rather than needlessly lost to landfill. Directing food waste to these plants will generate more sustainable energy to power homes and businesses, cutting down more than 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions associated with this waste."

Councils in England will be supported with up to £295 million in funding to introduce weekly food waste collections by March 31, 2026, former Recycling Minister Robbie Moore has announced.

New funding will cover new food waste containers for homes and specialist collection vehicles, targeted at local authorities that have yet to fully put food waste service in place.

Currently, there is no facility for separate food waste disposal within Worcestershire and leaders at the firm argue that the close-proximity of Stenergy’s plant to the council depot at Sixways would 'make it much easier for local councils to set up compliant food waste schemes'.

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Mr Warburton added: "The proposed £30 million state of the art Stenergy waste food gas to grid plant at Hindlip, Worcester has received fantastic levels of support from MPs, local businesses and key stakeholders, but has met with protracted intransigence and procrastination at local government level throughout the detailed planning application process.

"One might take a view that certain parties are protecting the incinerator(s) by continuing to dispose of this valuable resource ‘up the stack’ rather than electing to positively engage with desirable waste to energy technologies and the development/integration of the circular economy for Worcestershire."

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: "A planning application has been submitted for the above development, further information was submitted recently amending the proposal, and this is currently out for public consultation until December 5, 2024.

"Given this is a currently pending planning application, it would not be appropriate for the County Council to comment on the merits of the proposed development at the current time."