Cumbria will become ‘one of the greenest counties in Britain’ after approving a £700M waste-disposal contract with Shanks Group.

The 25-year public-private partnership (PPP) contract will see much of the county’s waste sent to mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plants where it will be transformed into an environmentally-friendly fuel. Shanks will employ its proven Intelligent Transfer Station (ITS) MBT technology used in waste facilities across the UK and Europe.

Councillors unanimously approved the motion to delegate the authority to sign the contract to the chief executive. The contract is due to be signed early in the new year, so the partnership can begin on 2 February.

MBT is the most sustainable waste technology currently available and will reduce the amount of waste Cumbria sends to landfill by 80% – leading to a major reduction in the amount of methane the county produces.

Under the plans, MBT plants will be built at Hespin Wood in Carlisle and a site in Barrow – yet to be confirmed – while three transfer stations would be constructed at Flusco near Penrith, Kendal Fell and Distington.

The plants could be up and running by 2012. Cllr Tim Knowles, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for waste management, said: ‘This 25-year contract with Shanks shows a long-term commitment to providing the people of Cumbria with a modern, green and cost-effective way of dealing with their waste.

‘It is probably the biggest single thing we as councillors will ever do to reduce our county’s carbon footprint. ‘It will make Cumbria one of the greenest counties in Britain, and will put us at the forefront of the national waste scene.’