Plans for an alternative recycling facility will be put to Hertfordshire County Council’s waste contractor.

County Council’s Cabinet agreed this week to ask contractor Veolia for an alternative option for dealing with Hertfordshire’s residual waste.

The decision follows the Secretary of State’s ruling not to grant planning permission for Veolia’s recycling and energy recovery facility at New Barnfield.

Veolia will now be given six months to prepare an alternative option for a new facility.

Councillor Terry Douris, cabinet member for waste management, said: “Under the existing contract, Veolia’s preparation of an alternative option comes at no extra cost to Hertfordshire County Council.

"As we have free access to Veolia’s expertise, it would be short sighted not to ask them for an alternative to New Barnfield.

“We have plans in place to deal with waste up to 2021 so we have sufficient time to come up with a long-term solution that is both environmentally and financially sound.”

Veolia has challenged the Secretary of State’s decision and their case will be heard on December 16 and 17.

The court’s decision is anticipated early in the New Year.

If Veolia’s challenge is successful while they are working on an alternative plan, the county council can then decide whether to ask Veolia to continue with work on alternative proposals or return to the original plan to build a facility at New Barnfield.

Cllr Douris added: “While legal action is underway, we need to consider the implications of both a successful or unsuccessful challenge and have options available for either scenario.

“Veolia’s legal challenge is entirely at their own cost and independent from the county council who are not challenging the decision.”