HIS Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester will today officially open a huge new rubbish incinerator near Hartlebury.

The EnviRecover Plant is the largest infrastructure project in the region and according to Worcestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council will deliver a massive reduction in the use of landfill for the disposal of household waste in the two counties.

EnviRecover will transform up to 200,000 tonnes of waste per year - equivalent of more than 13 million black wheelie bins of waste - into enough electricity to power 32,000 homes, enough to power all of the homes in Hereford or Kidderminster, Stourport on Severn and Bewdley combined.

The Duke will join the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, representatives from Worcestershire County Council, Herefordshire Council, Mercia Waste Management and their main contractor, Hitachi Zosen Inova, along with other invited guests for a tour of the facility and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

Cllr Tony Miller, Worcestershire County Council cabinet member for the environment, said: "I'm proud of the work that has been done by all concerned in delivering this facility. We know that the Environment is a priority for our residents and a sustainable environment is important for the economy.

"EnviRecover will turn waste that would have otherwise gone to landfill, into enough electricity to power 32,000 homes and this is great news for the region".

Cllr Harry Bramer, Herefordshire Council cabinet member for contracts and assets, said: “I am delighted that we have delivered EnviRecover on time and to specification, and welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester to officially open the fantastic new facility. EnviRecover will ensure the best value for money in accepting and safely treating the region’s non-recyclable waste, and provide a valuable source of electricity for many years to come.”

Tomás Núñez, director for FCC Environment International said: “The opening of the EnviRecover Energy from Waste facility completes the last element of the Integrated Waste Management Contract, signed in 1998.

"Today we should all feel proud of the delivery of a robust, long term, cost effective solution. EnviRecover will reduce reliance on landfill, generate renewable energy from waste that cannot otherwise be recycled and benefit all the residents of both Worcestershire and Herefordshire.”

Javier Peiro, managing director of Urbaser Ltd said: “This has been a great success story in terms of the collaboration between Mercia, its shareholders and the local authorities. There has been a strong sense of co-operation between all the parties involved, enabling delivery of a world class facility that will see the virtual elimination of landfill for residual waste in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”