A FAILED waste plant is set to be pulled down - less than a decade after £100million was spent building it. 

The Tovi Eco Park, a mechanical biological treatment plant in Courtauld Road, Basildon, was agreed in 2012 between Essex County Council and UBB Waste (Essex) Ltd.

An £800 million contract was agreed to design, build and operate the plant, which processed black bag waste from across the county.

However the waste plant never fully worked, sparking legal action and ultimately its closure. 

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Essex County Council say work is scheduled to be completed by Easter 2024, with the dismantling of the building itself expected to start in coming weeks.

Stuart Terson, councillor for Pitsea North West ward where the facility is located, branded the saga a “massive waste of money”.

He said: “I am glad it is finally being sorted and it isn’t going to be just sitting there anymore.

“We will now have to wait and see what happens with the site next.

“It is a massive shame, and a massive waste of money by the contractors, that is the biggest thing.

“But I believe around 95 per cent of it is going to be recycled and not going to landfills, which is a positive thing.

“I am just glad for residents in the area it is coming to an end of a long-drawn-out battle.”

The facility was capable of processing up to 417,000 tonnes of waste a year, and the original contract would have seen the plant run for 28 years.

Works to remove the site will take place in daytime hours, between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday, to minimise inconvenience.

Malcolm Buckley, Essex County Councillor responsible for waste reduction and recycling, added: “It is really important that the facility’s owners are able to repurpose and reuse as much of the equipment from the facility. In the meantime, UBB is looking to remove the facility as soon as possible and I am pleased these initial works will start soon.

“Steps are already being taken to develop a new waste strategy and we will continue to progress the project as quickly as possible. However, we must also ensure we get it right so that we can encourage more sustainable and environmentally-friendly waste management in the long term.”