BUILDING work will start in the New Year on an energy plant that will turn Newport City Council’s food waste into power for 1,500 homes.

The plant, which will be built by BIOGEN and known as The Tomorrow’s Valley Hub, will be built on the Bryn Pica site in Llwydcoed, Aberdare.

The project is a joint undertaking by Newport City Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Merthyr Tydfil City Council.

The anaerobic digestion facility will be able to convert 25,000 tonnes of food waste into green electricity – and it is hoped this could provide one megawatt of electricity by the time it is finished at the end of 2014.

One million tonnes of waste is already being used to generate 1.8 megawatts of electricity at the site and powers all households in Llwydcoed, Church Village and Tonypandy.

WRAP Cymru, a not-for-profit company that works with businesses to reduce waste, said the councils’ carbon footprint will save almost £2 million over their 15-year contract.

Other than Bryn Pica, BIOGEN has two other plants in Wales. They are BIOGEN Gwyriad in Caernarfon and BIOGEN Waen in Denbighshire.

BIOGEN’s Chief Executive, Richard Barker, said: “We are delighted to be finally kicking off this project with the Tomorrow’s Valley Hub. This is a great investment into the area. Not only will it bring state of the art technology to transform food waste into renewable energy and a nutritious biofertiliser, but it will also bring much needed employment into area. This is our third such project in Wales, and we look forward to working with the Welsh Government and the Local Authorities to drive forward its waste and renewables agenda”

Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Frontline Services, Councillor Andrew Morgan, said: “We are pleased that the food waste project will get underway in earnest in the New Year. The success of this partnership proves our continued commitment to working towards a more sustainable and environmentally-focused future, through innovative and efficient waste, recycling and re-use practices.”