What is proposed?
The proposal will consist of the following:
Our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) will sort and recover 100% of recyclable materials from businesses and households, such as plastics, glass, cardboard, metals, timber, crushed concrete and aggregate, which would otherwise be lost to landfill.
We also propose a site storage facility so that the recovered materials, like crushed concrete, brick or shredded timber, can be sold on…
The development will also include the possibility of a Civic Amenity Site (CA site) which Powerday will manage on behalf of Hillingdon Council subject to commercial terms being agreed.
Why has this site been chosen?
The West Drayton site has been chosen because it is strategically located within Hillingdon and west London, close to the point of waste production. It has good access to the Distribution Road Network and at every opportunity the excellent access to the rail network will be used to avoid road use. This means that Hillingdon will have a local solution to its waste needs, becoming self sufficient, and no longer relying on exporting waste to landfill sites outside of the capital.
Why do we need it?
According to the West London Waste Plan Issues and Options consultation document released in February 2009, 70% of west London’s waste (including LB Hillingdon) is currently transferred to sites outside of the capital for disposal or treatment, with the majority ending up in landfill sites located in the ‘shire’ counties surrounding greater London. This is not sustainable in the long term and it is now widely acknowledged that a community’s waste should be processed, and preferably recycled, as close to its point of origin as possible. Similarly, there is mounting pressures to divert more waste away from landfill encouraged by various legislative measures:
- EU Landfill Directive: The UK has agreed to divert 50% of Biodegradable Municipal Waste (on 1995 levels) by 2013 and 65% by 2020. If these are missed then it could potentially result in EU fines of £180m per year. The local authorities will in turn be liable for fines at a rate of £150 for every tonne above their allowances. This would inevitably mean higher council charges to residents.
- Landfill Tax: The UK currently has a landfill tax level of £48 per tonne but this will increase to £80 per tonne by 2014.The local authorities will in turn be liable for fines at a rate of £150 for every tonne above their allowances. This would inevitably mean higher council charges to residents.
- The Mayor of London’s draft Waste Strategy sets a target to achieve zero municipal waste direct to landfill by 2025 and to recycle and compost 45% of municipal waste by 2015, 50% by 2020 and 60% by 2031.
When will the facility be built and operational?
Our public consultation phase will run through September to November 2010. We anticipate submitting a planning application
in late 2010.
Subject to planning permission being granted, it is anticipated that the construction would commence in mid 2011. We envisage
a 15 – 18 month construction period meaning that the earliest the facility would open would be late 2012.
