Earlier this week, the Agency issued a statement referring to it as “mixed domestic waste” and also saying that the waste would go to a landfill that had appropriate permits to take “household waste”.
Now, however, its previous statement about the material which had been stored by Blakeley’s Waste Management of Wigan, has been withdrawn. (see letsrecycle.com story)
Confusion
Despite the withdrawal of the Agency statement,the content of the bales still remains the subject of some confusion. Blakeley’s is adamant that the material is commercial waste for recycling and issued a new statement to letsrecycle.com late on Friday 3 August 2012.
The company said: “The Environment Agency today made a statement that Blakeley’s handles domestic waste. Blakeley’s does not and we have challenged this statement. The Agency has since admittedit has put out incorrect information and is currently updating its press statements.”
Blakeley’s is understood to consider that its positionhas not been helped by the Agency’s public comments.
Yet, yesterday (August 3) the Agency still appeared to indicate that it stillthought there was household waste in the bales as rather than using the term “mixed domestic waste”, itsaid the material “based on current assessment is householdand commercial waste”. An Agency spokeswoman added that the investigation was ongoing and more work assessing the material was continuing.
Resolve
The bales have caused a serious fly problem in local homes and are in the process of being removed although this could take up to four weeks.
Blakeley’s has also said that it would have wished to more swiftly resolve the problem butfaced access problems to the site because of difficulties in connection with the landholder. The waste company has also organised fly and pest control work in the area.
The landlord has not commented specifically on this point but said itwas in discussions with Blakeley’s.
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