Tynes Bay is now fully operational again with repairs to the second incineration stream completed almost two weeks ahead of schedule.

The breakdown in machinery resulted in domestic waste being dumped as landfill at Marsh Folly, in a contingency measure to avoid fire breaking out at Tynes Bay.

In April, during annual maintenance works at the plant, garbage reached more than 30ft in height in the refuse bunker, causing it to overflow into the tipping hall and combust. Firefighters who spent five hours tackling the blaze said the trash probably self-ignited due to the humidity.

Truckers started transporting household waste to Marsh Folly as part of the Emergency Waste Disposal Contingency Plan on August 22. On September 8, Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess said the horticultural waste site would have to be used for a further two weeks while repairs were carried out.

Yesterday however, Kirk Outerbridge, Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Facility plant manager, said the machinery was operational by September 11 – almost two weeks ahead of the anticipated date.

Mr. Outerbridge said: "Stream Two was brought back online on September 11.

The Contingency Plan was stopped on September 12 after the system was proven, and waste was redirected to Tynes Bay on September 13."