FCC has MRF extension plans rejected

The firm had proposed changes to its planning permit for its Sutton Courtenay site which included increasing the operational hours of a materials recycling facility (MRF), which is currently under construction, increasing the sites throughput and allowing for medical waste to be accepted for onward transfer.

However, Oxfordshire county councils Planning and Regulation Committee on Monday (September 9) ruled against the two bids.

Commenting on the ruling, an FCC Environment spokesperson said: It is very disappointing that the planning committee has voted against its own officers recommendation that our applications should have been granted planning consent. We will take time to appraise the situation and make an announcement in due course as to what our next steps will be.

Applications

The firm currently operates a composting facility and landfill at the Sutton Courtenay site, which takes in waste from Oxfordshires local authorities, and from West London councils by rail. FCC Environment sought a number of changes under two applications, these included:

• Operating the MRF until 22:00 on weekdays and 20:00 on Saturdays the current permitted operating hours are until 18:00 on weekdays and 13:00 on Saturdays;

• Allowing treated, wrapped and baled materials to be stored outside at present all waste must be stored in the MRF building;

• Increasing the maximum potential import of material into the site to 720,000 tonnes per annum. The current capacity is 600,000 tonnes per annum. The application proposes that the 60,000tpa of waste for onward transfer, 40,000tpa of composting throughput and 200tpa of clinical waste be excluded from this, increasing the overall capacity;

• Using part of the MRF building as a waste transfer station, with a 50,000tpa capacity, for transferring waste from households to the Ardley energy from waste plant in the future; and,

• Taking 200tpa of clinical waste from Oxfordshire which would be delivered in sealed containers for onward transfer. The containers would not be opened or treated on site.

Under the permit, FCC Environment can operate on the site until 2030, at which time the site will return to green field status. The landfill on site can accept non-hazardous waste until 2030.

In the future, residual waste will be treated at an EfW plant in Ardley operated by Viridor, which is currently under construction (see letsrecycle.com story). The 250 million plant forms part of a 25-year residual waste treatment contract between Viridor and the council.