MOVES to build a incinerator to burn waste in Suffolk that cannot be recycled have taken a major step forward with the announcement of a preferred bidder to take on the project.

Sita UK Ltd has been chosen from a field of 13 companies – although the bid from Veolia ES Aurora Limited still remains open for acceptance and the final decision to award the contract will be taken later this year.

The proposed incinerator, to be built at Great Blakenham, would generate energy and heat from that waste which cannot reasonably be recycled or composted.

The company that is awarded the 25-year contract will still need to apply for planning permission and the application will go through public consultation.

County councillor Lisa Chambers, who is responsible for waste policy, said: “We have two very good proposals in front of us.

“We have selected Sita UK Limited as the preferred bidder to progress to the next stage.

“Reaching this milestone brings the county ever closer to delivering a good solution for the council tax payer and will also contribute towards making Suffolk the greenest county.”

Suffolk recycles about half its waste. The council is hoping to increase this to 60pc of all waste by the time the incinerator is built at the end of 2014.

John Field is opposition spokesman for the environment and waste – and is also Liberal Democrat county councillor for Blakenham.

He remained opposed to the development: “This is another step along the road that the Conservative council seems determined to take – but we still have many concerns.

“The administration seems determined to build the incinerator on their own site at Blakenham so they can make the planning decision.

“But it is not a good site because of the traffic and the number of homes nearby – not to mention SnOasis. I am also concerned we could end up buying in waste to feed it.”