Construction will begin shortly on the seven-acre site near Alton and the MRF – one of the largest of such facilities in the UK – is expected to be operational by the end of 2003.
“We are absolutely delighted,” said John Collis, director of Hampshire Waste Services. “We only have one other MRF in the county, at Portsmouth. As recycling has become more successful a second facility has become essential to handle the increasing amounts of recyclable material collected.”
The new facility will include a waste transfer station for the transfer of non-recyclable waste that will be taken for composting, incineration or landfill. The whole site will be landscaped to ensure minimum visual impact, especially along its boundary with the A31.
Part of Hampshire’s Project Integra strategy for dealing with household waste, the new MRF will help the county reach its 40% recycling target. The county currently recycles around 25% of the 840,000 tonnes of waste it produces each year.
“Recycling in this age is critical,” Mr Collis said, “this facility will become an asset to the county’s waste strategy.”
Material for the new MRF will largely come from kerbside collection projects. Although the county failed to receive any funds from the first part of the government's 140 National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund (see letsrecycle.com story), the county hopes to gain funds from next year's allowance for kerbside collection.
Mr Collis said: “Around 90% of Hampshire homes now have a kerbside recycling collection and this has proven to be the single most effective measure to ensure that recycling happens.”
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