A war of words has broken out between Lewes DC and East Sussex CC over a contract with waste specialist, Veolia. Speaking at a public inquiry last week, Lewes DC leader, Ann De Vecchi, said East Sussex CC's contract with Veolia favoured incineration over recycling. The county council signed the 25-year contract with Veolia in 2003, but East Sussex refused to make the details of the deal public when pressed by Lewes DC. A Lewes DC spokesman said the Information Commissioner ruled that East Sussex should publish some details. According to information released, the county council pays Veolia a supplement of £26.16 per tonne for waste which is incinerated, compared with £13.60 per tonne for waste which is recycled. But an East Sussex CC spokesman said: ‘The contract is constructed to incentivise Veolia to maximise recycling – and the simple fact is that the overall income per tonne Veolia can make through recycling under this contract is likely to be as much as through incineration, if not greater. ‘In addition, Veolia has to meet challenging recycling targets, or face financial penalties, under the contract.'
