Viridor has signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract with Cardiff City Council, acting on behalf Prosiect Gwyrdd, a partnership of five local authorities from across South Wales.

The waste from the five authorities; Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly, Vale of Glamorgan and Newport, will be treated at Viridor's Energy from Waste (EfW). The EfW is currently being built at Trident Park, Cardiff and due for completion in 2014.

Prosiect Gwyrdd will deliver an average of 172 000 tonnes of waste per year with the plant also taking up to 178 000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste from across South Wales. Operating at its full capacity of 350 000 tonnes, the facility will generate 28 MW of power .

Viridor is also working with Cardiff Council on future plans for a district heating network which could increase the power generation through electricity and heat to 43MW.

Howard Ellard, Viridor Business Development Director, said:

After a three-year tendering process, we are delighted to have signed this contract and look forward to providing this essential service to the project partners and their residents. The construction of the £223 m facility has already brought jobs and economic benefits to the area, and will provide around 40 permanent jobs (including apprenticeship opportunities). The project represents another key milestone in the development of Viridor's PPP/EfW strategy.