A WASTE firm has been awarded the £275m contract to build and operate an incinerator at Calvert.

FCC Environment, formerly Waste Recycling Group, has waste sites across the country including a landfill and recycling centre near Witney.

FCC was given planning permission for the incinerator in April despite opposition from people in Bicester over increased traffic .

Up to 84 extra lorries a day will use the A41 around the town to truck waste to the Calvert site in Buckinghamshire.

Construction work on the burner at Greatmoor is expected to start either late 2012 or early 2013 and the incinerator is due to open in winter 2013/2014.

Steven Adams, Buckinghamshire County Council cabinet member for environment, said: “We have spent a considerable amount of time through this rigorous process understanding the various technology options, the perceived health implications and selected the most competitive company to provide the service.”

Dan Murphy, project director for FCC Environment, said up to 300 construction jobs would be created and 64 permanent jobs running the burner. He added: “The project will bring real environmental and economic benefits for the county over its lifetime.”