There are currently waste proposals by Viridor, Resource Recovery Solutions (RRS), Covanta and Brunner Mond on the table.

Bedminster is already constructing a waste plant in Lostock.

It is possible that all but one get the green light – that one being whichever company fails to secure the council waste contract.

Viridor and RRS are in direct competition for Cheshire’s 25-year household waste contract.

Only one can win and at present, both companies say that if they are not successful, they will not build.

Viridor proposes to bring waste into a site off Griffiths Road, in Lostock where it will be cleaned and treated to make fuel which can be burned at an already existing incinerator in Runcorn.

It will leave the site by rail.

RRS wants to build a ‘gasification’ plant at New Cheshire Business Park, in Wincham Lane, which will see waste heated to extract gas which in turn powers a turbine.

Viridor has already submitted its planning application to Cheshire West and Chester Council, RRS is yet to do so.

Only plans that have been approved can be considered for the final Cheshire waste contract.

Bedminster is already a done deal.

It is building a plant which will see waste placed in a large drum to speed up the composting process.

The bio-degradable part of the waste will be broken down and burned for fuel. However, because it is organic, there will be no dioxins.

It plans to treat 200,000 tonnes of waste a year, mainly from businesses in Cheshire, but still needs to find more waste to make sure it hits its target.

It owns the rail head that Viridor’s plans depend on.

Covanta has put in plans to build an incinerator at Midpoint 18 Industrial Estate in Middlewich.

It would treat waste from business and industry brought in from Cheshire.

The plans do not depend on winning the Cheshire waste contract.

Brunner Mond wants to bring in waste that has already been treated elsewhere and is ready to use as fuel.

It would then be burned on site to provide electric power and heat for the plant.

Any surplus electricity would be put back into the National Grid.

It is the only proposal that plans to bring material in from outside of Cheshire but it will not come in the form of raw waste – it will be as a pre-treated fuel.