About this Exhibition

Transcription

1 About this Exhibition Proposals for a new waste facility for Cheshire This exhibition provides you with important information about Viridor s revised proposals for a new waste treatment facility at Lostock Works, off Griffiths Road, Lostock Gralam. Our aim is to improve services so that approximately 200,000 tonnes of residual waste currently produced by Cheshire each year is managed in the most economical, environmentally responsible and sustainable way. The Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East authorities are seeking an alternative sustainable waste treatment option for residual household waste. Viridor, one of the UK s leading recycling, Please take this opportunity to talk to the Viridor team today. Ask questions, find out more information and give your views on the proposals. renewable energy and waste management companies, is one of two bidders that have been shortlisted for the final stage in Cheshire s Household Waste PFI Contract. The Revised Proposal The revised planning application includes a scaled down facility, which will treat 200,000 tonnes of waste per annum, reduced from an originally This proposal will meet with Cheshire s waste management requirements for the next 25 years. proposed 250,000 tpa. This will remove concerns over creating excess treatment capacity, and will further reduce the impact on the local highways.

2 Why the facility is needed In the UK, the Government has set all local councils strict targets to increase waste recycling and reduce the use of landfill. Cheshire already has one of the Our proposed Mechanical & Biological Treatment (MBT) waste facility at Lostock Gralam will help Cheshire to: best recycling records in the North West thanks to the efforts of residents across the region but more can be achieved. However, even with improved and anticipated higher recycling rates there will still be approximately 200,000 tonnes of residual waste left over, which will require further treatment otherwise it would be destined to landfill. Residual waste is the remaining waste that is left after recyclable materials have been removed for re-use or recycling. Maximise its recycling performance. Use residual waste in a more sustainable way, for example to generate renewable energy. Meet its legal obligations to significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. The facility will have a lifespan of at least 25 years, representing a significant investment in Cheshires commitment to sustainable waste management.

3 A new Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility Our proposal provides for a state of the art Mechanical & Biological Treatment (MBT) facility which will: Build strong waste education and awareness programmes through a waste education and visitor centre at the MBT site. Provide a solution to the environmental problems of sending waste to landfill. Provide renewable energy to local industry replacing reliance on fossil fuel sources and helping protect the local economy from Provide around new jobs at the MBT fluctuations in energy prices. facility with further jobs to be created at the Waste Transfer Stations. These proposals are for an MBT facility - and not for an incinerator. We do not intend to build an Make use of an abandoned site which was formerly a chemical works. Meet the councils requirements for waste management. incinerator or energy from waste plant on this site. Fuel recovered from this site will be sent by rail to the INEOS Chlor power plant in Runcorn, currently under construction.

4 Treatment of Waste Each year the 200,000 tonnes of residual waste produced in Cheshire will be delivered by road to the facility for treatment. The process will create a solid recovered fuel (SRF) which will be transported by rail to a power plant in Runcorn, generating electricity to directly support local industry and jobs. The waste will come from transfer stations in Ellesmere Port, Macclesfield and Crewe, local refuse collections and Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC). The SRF created will only be transported using a private rail link, helping to minimise the impact on local road traffic. Waste will be subjected to a series of mechanical and biological processes to separate recyclable and reusable materials from waste that cannot The small remainder of waste that cannot be recycled or recovered for fuel (less than 10%) will be sent to landfill. be recycled. The entire process takes place under tightly controlled conditions which will minimise all risk of odour, noise and litter.

5 The Site Area: 4.5 hectares. Location: Former ICI Chlorine plant, Lostock Works, Griffiths Road, Lostock Gralam, approximately 2km east of Northwich town centre. Nearest roads: access via a private road from the A530.

6 Working with our neighbours Viridor takes the protection of the environment very seriously. We will consider all the key environmental and amenity matters in detail and take steps to ensure that any local impact will be kept to an absolute minimum. Noise levels will be kept well within acceptable limits by containing waste management activities within the site buildings. The site will be open to accept waste between the hours of 7.00am and 7.30pm, which is required by the Cheshire Waste Collection Authorities. The plant will operate 24 hours and 7 days a week in order to deliver the required service but the main mechanical treatment operations will only operate during daytime hours. Dispatch of the fuel (SRF) produced at the site will be made by rail, helping to minimise the impact on local road traffic. Air quality will be maintained by ensuring that any emissions meet the Environment Agency s stringent standards. Measures will be adopted to ensure no dust or foul odour escapes into the air. The neighbourhood will be protected from litter by securely containing the waste material in transit and loading and unloading the material within enclosed buildings. The building will be designed and constructed to ensure the development is appropriate for the surrounding area and to minimise its visual impact.

7 Working with our neighbours Transport By using rail to dispatch the solid recovered fuel (SRF) to Runcorn for power generation, Viridor will minimise the impact that the facility will have on local roads. The traffic impact assessment for the planning application has been undertaken in consultation with the local Highway Authority and clearly indicates that the local road network is suitable for development of this scale, and that these proposals The site will accept waste by road between the hours of 7.00am and 7.30pm daily, as required by will not have a detrimental effect on traffic levels, congestion or highway safety. the Cheshire authorities. Viridor will make a minimum voluntary contribution of 150,000 to further junction and road improvements in the area.

8 Working with our neighbours Air Quality and Odour Control The proposed MBT facility will utilise state-of-theart technology to ensure that there is no significant impact on local air quality and that the risk of odour is minimised. Air will be extracted within the building and will be used to bio-dry the waste. It will then be passed through bio-filters to cleanse it before it is returned to the atmosphere. All waste treatment will take place within an enclosed building which will be maintained under negative pressure to prevent air from escaping. Vehicles will enter the facility through fast acting roller shutter doors.

9 Conclusion Through the proposed development of the MBT facility at Lostock Gralam we are committed to providing Cheshire with the best available waste management and recycling facilities to meet the current and future needs of local residents. Our proposed development will ensure that Cheshire leads the way in sustainable waste management and fully supports existing waste reduction and recycling initiatives whilst making use of materials that would otherwise be sent to landfill. The proposals will also create, protect and secure employment for local people. We think the most effective solution for Cheshire is to build a waste treatment plant that can efficiently and effectively process refuse with minimum disruption to the surrounding neighbourhoods. In revising our proposals we have listened carefully and are confident that the new application addresses any issues the planning committee may have previously held. Our proposals are clearly in line with local and national waste and planning policies and we feel the proposed facility would bring many positive benefits, notably, substantial investment, jobs, local energy production and best practice residual waste treatment. We aim to raise awareness of the importance of recycling, best practice waste management and renewable energy. As part of our proposals we intend to create a centre of excellence for learning in the form of a waste education and visitor centre. For more information about the proposals or to follow the progress of the application, please visit our website at