The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority has paid a small dowry to a private company to takeon full ownership and environmental responsibility for 18 ofthe Authority’sclosed landfill sites.
The sites, comprising a total of 526 acres, were transferred for an undisclosed sum to land management company Landcare (Manchester) Limited (Landcare)in a dealon December 17.
Landcare specialises in taking on the liabilities of redundant brownfield sites and will now be tasked with ensuring the continued protection of the environment at the sites in compliance with legal requirements. This will include the careful management of methane andleachate. Operational support will be provided by Landcares sister company Thornton Facilities Management.
The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) provides recycling and waste disposal services for overone million households in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. Ithas been keen to offload the 18 former landfill sites for several years and in its 2011/12 statement of accounts, it valued the sites at as little as 1 each.
The Authority has retained ownership of four remaining closed landfill sites which it saidare of strategic importance.
GMWDA chair, Councillor Neil Swannick, said: We signed the 25 year Recycling and Waste Management Contract to manage the Authoritys waste with Viridor Laing in April 2009. The next logical step was to look at better ways to manage some 18 former landfill sites. The sites were a legacy from the past when the majority of waste was disposed directly to landfill.
The Authority was very clear that a sale with on-going commitment to proactive site management was the priority. As such we are delighted that Landcare, a specialist professional company with the right expertise and the opportunity to bring the sites into more beneficial use, be that through focussed community engagement or in some cases through redevelopment has been selected.
Landcare
Landcare, which is part of the Glasgow-based land development firm the NPL group, was selected from three bidders to take over the 18 landfill sites. Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Landcares managing director Roger Warren said: They [the GMWDA] have paid us a small dowry to look after the sites because of the environmental responsibility.
“We will over time look at ways in which sites can be enhanced through funding and in some cases through redevelopment”
Simon Towers, Landcare’s group managing director
He added: The company is initially concentrating on the care and maintenance of the sites and redevelopment proposals may be considered in the future. The company has taken over full ownership and responsibility and ownership signs will be erected in the near future.
Mr Warren explained that Landcare already owns and manages over 15 closed and open landfill sites in the UK, although he said the deal with the GMWDA represented the first transfer from a local authority. He added that two of the sites under the deal had previously produced energy but due to current volumes and quality this is no longer possible.
Landcares group managing director Simon Towers added: This transaction cements Landcares standing as the UKs leading liability divestment company. We are delighted that the Authority has placed its trust in Landcare to take over responsibility of the sites which have been managed well for the last 20 years or so. A number of the sites are at present enjoyed by local communities and our aim is to enhance partnership arrangements and be a visible, responsive and responsible company.
“We will over time look at ways in which sites can be enhanced through funding and in some cases through redevelopment, but our core focus is retaining the levels of care and maintenance and ensuring that the sites continue to no longer pose a risk to the environment.
Sale
John Lafferty, associate director of planning and development at commercial property management company Jones Lang LaSalle, who advised the GMWDA on the deal said it was unique.
He commented: This is a unique portfolio sale of former landfill sites which are spread over the Greater Manchester conurbation. JLL have been advising on the scheme for a considerable period, which is complex because of the diverse nature of assets being sold as a single transaction. We are delighted that the transaction has been completed.
The eighteen closed landfill sites all stopped taking waste before the early 1990s.
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) provides recycling and waste disposal services for over 1 million households in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. It handles around 5% of national municipal waste.
The 18 former landfill sites and addresses are listed below:
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