A planning application has been submitted to develop the MRF next to a waste transfer depot and civic amenity site on land owned by Mole Valley District Council.
The move comes despite the fact that Surrey County Council, the waste disposal authority, has a disposal contract with SITA. But Mole Valley's head of general services Dave Parr said that the district council had decided to go ahead with a MRF in an attempt to meet imminent recycling targets.
“Couldn't wait”
“SITA's strategy was to build two incinerators instead of three smaller MRFs which the council had previously obtained planning permission for. Subsequently, planning permission for those two incinerators has been turned down,” he said. “We couldn't wait any longer – we have got recycling targets to meet.”
So Mole Valley council put plans to build a MRF out to tender. This was won by Grundon, which is now submitting an application for a 40,000 facility to sort newspapers, mixed paper, card, plastics and cans from all 34,000 households in Mole Valley, as well as some commercial collections.
If permission is granted, the facility should be operational by spring 2004. The council hopes it will then raise its recycling rate from the 2001/02 value of 14% to the target of 24% by 2003/04.
Pilot
Mole Valley currently has kerbside collections of newspapers, magazines and cans, which contractor Biffa collects in a split wagon. In August, a pilot twin wheeled bin collection will be launched to 6,000 homes for three months. This will see alternating week collections of dry mixed recyclables and residual waste.
Managing director of Grundon Richard Skehens said: “This innovative partnership with Mole Valley District Council will build on our practical experience of designing, building and operating three similar MRFs in the Home Counties. It will provide East Surrey with a realistic opportunity to achieve its recycling targets and further reduce their need for landfill and other waste disposal options.”
Subscribe for free