A HUGE waste treatment plant in Basildon could help ease the burden of Southend taxpayers.

Southend Council hopes the residual waste treatment facility, which is set to open in Cortauld Road, Basildon, in July will generate revenue for the council.

It will use the facility, whose construction is visible from the A127 near the Nevendon Interchange, and hopes a by-product of the waste treatment can be sold off as fuel.

Senior councillors agreed to give the county council, which will also use the facility, powers to look for a private contractor to sell the “refuse derived fuel”, last Thursday.

Tony Cox, Southend councillor responsible for waste, said: “This is good news.

“It is something I have pushed for since I have been portfolio holder and I’m pleased the partnership board has taken it up.

“It was something that was due to take place once the waste was starting to be produced, but I was keen to see if we could get a contract before that.”