Quarterbridge are a NABMA-approved consultant and work for a number of NABMA (and non-NABMA) Market Authorities. They would be grateful for advice on Market waste incineration and/or CHP plants.

“We are currently assisting with several Market Hall redevelopments where we need to devise ways to reduce service costs - in particular the disposal of market waste to landfill sites. This cost is set to soar as a result of planned increases in landfill tax and we are investigating the economics and practicalities of disposal by incineration. Strategies such as recycling waste cardboard are already well-established as is straightforward incineration, but some Clients are now considering the installation of a CHP (Combined Heat and Power) incinerator to incinerate waste and provide cheap heat and power to the market hall at the same time. On the face of it such installations are attractive because of the so-called Enhanced Capital Allowance tax-incentives currently available, but there are practical problems as well e.g. the need to mix vegetable waste with high calorie refuse or fuel to achieve the required temperatures that avoid toxic emissions. We also understand it is not as yet practical to incinerate butchers waste.

We are in touch with several authorities who employ waste incineration but their focus is very much on the efficient disposal of residential and commercial refuse. There is little data available on the practicalities and economic impact of disposing with market waste via Incineration and CHP plants and what effect this has on Market service charges. Perhaps a NABMA member has already evaluated this - if so we would be pleased to exchange ideas with them and share our findings with all members.

Many thanks - I can be contacted at: jonathan.owen@quarterbridge.co.uk”

NABMA would be pleased to be copied in to any replies.