The projects in Barnsley, Bradford, Suffolk and Leeds will help meet UK's European recycling targets

The Government is investing £310m in four projects which divert rubbish from landfill while generating power from waste.

The PFI-funded ventures aim to take more than a million tonnes of trash from the UK’s landfill. The country has one of the highest levels of landfilling in Europe. In 2006, 60% of 35.5 million tonnes of waste was buried.

The Government funds were allocated based on individual submissions from separate councils including Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Partnership; and Bradford, Suffolk County Council and Leeds councils. All schemes are seeking options for CHP with an energy from waste or Mechanical Biological Treatment Solution.

The Government has spent more than £1bn in supporting 23 waste PFI projects. There are currently 18 waste PFI projects in operation and five in procurement. The EU requires the volume of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill to be reduced to 75% of 1995 levels by 2010, 50% by 2013 and 35% by 2020.

PFI credits were awarded to the following projects

- Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Partnership - £77.4 million.
- Bradford Metropolitan District Council - £62.1 million.
- Suffolk County Council - £102 million.
- Leeds City Council - £68.6 million.

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