An urgent plan is required for waste disposal in Hyndburn
LCC have stated they will end the contract to send waste to landfill at Whinney Hill in 2025. That is just under three years away. So where are the plans to replace that?
This FOI confirms that Hyndburn Council has consistently sent to landfill for the last 15 years around 65% of waste. 35% being recycled, 5% of that garden waste.
Hyndburn Council vehicles need somewhere local to tip the 65%, or we plan to change the way we collect and dispose of waste, as Lancashire County Council, the responsible body for disposing of the waste is ending the contract with Whinney Hill in 2025. Blackburn and others may of course continue to use it.
And what will happen to the Waste Recycling Centre?
The above LCC reply gives a history of the failure of plans for the Waste Transfer Station.
The plans for 100% transferable waste (around 90% recyclables) at a waste transfer station in Huncoat taking all waste were squashed back in 2008.
The Lancashire Waste Partnership responsible for discussing this issue and who represents Hyndburn and the other 11 councils and Lancashire County Council operate with no transparency. The County state there is no plan.
Thinking caps are required as this will be a £30m to £50m project and located where? Whitebirk or further afield? A site accommodating 6 or 7 councils in the east of Lancashire is required. It needs to be identified.
And what will a new facility do with waste?? Burn it (energy from waste)? Or recycle it?
The Lancashire Waste Partnership itself is more of an information/discussion forum and has no decision making powers and as such the meeting records are not published. Each authority ultimately makes its own decisions and will follow their own processes publishing information on their decision accordingly.
Regards, Steve
Steve Scott
Head of Waste Management
My FOI to Hyndburn Council
Please could you advise on the following;
1. What is Hyndburn Councils’ current diversion from landfill of residual waste and what has it been it been in each of the last 15 years?
2. How much dry-recyclate waste is a diversion from landfill?
3. How much has Hyndburn Councils’ growth/decline in waste been in each of the last 15 years?
4. In each of the last 15 years how many trees have Hyndburn Council planted to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions?
Please could this only be sent to those officers with a direct and relevant contribution?
Kind regards,
Graham
Graham Jones
Former Member of Parliament for Haslingden and Hyndburn
45 Warmden Avenue, Baxenden, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 2PR
Waste to Whinney Hill to be ended in 2025
Begin forwarded message:
From: Scott, Steve
Subject: RE: 46499 Waste disposal forward plan
Date: 12 August 2021 at 12:44:16 BST
To: hh.graham.jones@gmail.com
Dear Mr Jones,
Angie has asked that I reply to your email.
Whinney Hill landfill site is a business privately owned and operated by Suez UK Ltd.
With regards to our use of the facility I can confirm that our contract ends in 2025. Whilst we may always be reliant on landfill for some wastes that cannot be managed otherwise we will be seeking to avoid landfilling waste once our contract ends. In this respect we are considering the options available and in doing so we are monitoring the progress of Government's Environment Bill which could have a significant impact on the amount and composition of wastes generated. In terms of lifespan the landfill site has planning consent until 2040 but we aren't aware of the operator's plans for the facility long term.
Kind regards
Steve
Steve Scott
Head of Waste Management
Lancashire County Council
PO Box 78, Preston, PR1 0LDT:
From: Graham Jones xMP
Sent: 11 August 2021 16:33
To: Ridgwell, Angie
Subject: Waste disposal forward plan.
Dear Angie Ridgwell,
Please could you advise on strategic planning on the waste disposal at Whinney Hill. The lifespan of Whinney Hill tip and the plans for a replacement disposal facility.
Kind regards
Graham
Graham Jones
Former Member of Parliament for Haslingden and Hyndburn
45 Warmden Avenue, Baxenden, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 2PR
Lancashire Waste Partnership
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Scott, Steve" <Steve.Scott@lancashire.gov.uk>
Subject: RE: Waste disposal forward plan. | Lancashire Waste Partnership post 2025
Date: 23 August 2021 at 11:04:30 BST
To: 'Graham Jones MP' <hh.graham.jones@gmail.com>
Dear Mr Jones,
Apologies for the delay in responding, I was on leave last week.
At the moment it is impossible to really consider a strategy for east Lancashire beyond 2025 until we know what the requirements on local authorities will be as a result of the Environment Bill. The Bill has the potential to change what will be collected and how, and therefore subsequently what the processing requirements will be. The LWP recognises that its strategy is out of date but authorities collectively agreed that there is little point developing a new strategy until the Bill is in place. This was originally was meant to be last year but it was suspended due to covid.
The LWP itself is more of an information/discussion forum and has no decision making powers and as such the meeting records are not published. Each authority ultimately makes its own decisions and will follow their own processes publishing information on their decision accordingly.
Regards Steve
Steve Scott
Head of Waste Management
Lancashire County Council
PO Box 78, Preston, PR1 0LD
T: 01772 533755
