Gwernymynydd councillor Nancy Matthews, Flintshire's executive member for waste management, and Buckley councillor Richard Jones recently visited a waste processing facility in Merseyside that turns household rubbish into renewable energy.

The mechanical heat treatment plant, operated by Orchid Environmental on behalf of Merseyside Waste Authority, is one of eight pilot demonstrator projects across the country funded by Defra, to explore new methods of dealing with household waste.

The facility is contracted to process 50,000 tonnes of municipal waste per annum, although it has the capacity to increase that to 80,000 tonnes annually, and reduces the level of waste that would have otherwise gone to landfill by up to 90 per cent.

Up to 45 per cent of the waste is converted into biomass fuel products that are being trialled in various industries, while another 20 per cent is eventually recycled. The remainder is lost as moisture into the atmosphere.

Cllr Matthews said: "The visit was extremely useful for both Richard and me, providing us with an opportunity to see close up one of a series of new technologies in action.

"In order to reduce landfill – and thereby minimise the year on year increases in landfill taxes – and to help increase our recycling performance, we must look at and consider all emerging new technologies that can help us achieve that goal.

"This process is one of many that are currently being considered by councils everywhere and one that has many benefits worthy of serious examination alongside other strategies being developed."

Cllr Jones said: "The pressure on councils to reduce landfill, while also increasing recycling, is huge and we must evaluate every possible solution if we are to achieve our targets while minimising the impact of landfill tax on local residents."