Thousands of tonnes of waste from Norfolk is to be burned at a new incinerator in Suffolk it has been confirmed.

Eastern Daily Press: The scene at County Hall where the decision was announced to scrap the incinerator. Council leader George Nobbs. Photo: Bill SmithThe scene at County Hall where the decision was announced to scrap the incinerator. Council leader George Nobbs. Photo: Bill Smith (Image: Archant)

Earlier this year, the EDP revealed that Norfolk County Council was in negotiations with Suffolk to send some of the county's household waste to the incinerator – or energy from waste plant – at Great Blakenham, when it is fully operational at the end of the summer.

Now a deal has been signed between the two authorities for Suffolk to take 40,000 tonnes of waste – 20pc of Norfolk's non-recyclable rubbish – a year for at least two years.

It is expected to save both councils about £1 million a year – with Norfolk paying less in landfill tax and Suffolk seeing economies of scale from the plant burning more waste.

The incinerator is currently starting operations in Great Blakenham and is designed to handle up to 269,000 tonnes of waste each year. The operator of the Great Blakenham plant, SITA UK, is seeking further contracts to make sure it runs to maximum efficiency.

Most of the waste that will be sent to Suffolk is currently sent to Aldeby landfill site near Beccles – and comes from households in north Norfolk and Great Yarmouth.

The waste will, instead, be transported to Suffolk from next month, and will arrive in eight HGVs per day, using designated lorry routes.

The contrast between the Suffolk and Norfolk incinerators could not be greater – while that in Blakenham has now started operating, Norfolk's proposal for a plant at Kings Lynn led to years of controversy before the plans were finally abandoned at massive cost earlier this year.

George Nobbs, Norfolk County Council's leader, said: 'It has been a pleasure to work with my fellow leader in Suffolk and set up this new and historic way of sharing services between our two counties.

'This deal demonstrates unequivocally that local authorities like us have the determination, the will, the ability and the maturity to share their services where such arrangements will bring mutual benefits.'

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