Devon County Council's development control committee has just given the go ahead to the proposal to build a composting facility to handle kitchen and garden waste that will be collected from homes in the South Hams and Teignbridge areas.
The new composting facility will process approximately 25,000 tonnes of waste to compost which will be used in a variety of ways including in agriculture, horticulture, landscaping, mineral and landfill restoration.
The proposal has been put together by the Devon Composting Partnership which comprises Devon County Council, Teignbridge, South Hams and Mid Devon District Councils, Viridor Waste Management, and Devon Waste Management Ltd.
DEFRA grant
The building of the plant is seen as an essential piece of infrastructure by the Devon Composting Partnership, which successfully won a 5 million grant from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to significantly increase recycling rates in Devon.
Devon County Council executive member for the environment Councillor David Morrish said: “This will be a major step forward for recycling in the county. Devon County Council is committed to continuing to improve the amounts of material we recycle and this will make a significant contribution.”
Dan Cooke, external affairs manager with Viridor, said: “Viridor is pleased that we will now be able to get on and build and operate this important composting facility at Heathfield, helping the Partnership Authorities deliver their waste recycling and composting targets over the
coming years.”
Councillor Gordon Hook, Teignbridge District Council's executive spokesperson for the environment and environmental health, said: “This is a time for positive change within Teignbridge. Local residents have been extremely understanding and enthusiastic when it comes to recycling, accepting that everyone can do their own little bit towards protecting our
beautiful environment. The approval of this facility means every Teignbridge resident will have the opportunity to have a brand new organic waste collection from October this year.
“We have already started working in the community to ensure everyone understands the benefits of the changes, and initial feedback is very good indeed. I am delighted that Teignbridge District Council has had such positive involvement with the partnership, and that we are one of Devon's districts due to benefit from the exciting changes that lie ahead.”
The facility will initially only be temporary – for six years – to tie in with the current landfilling and restoration license at Heathfield which ends in 2005/6.
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