The move east comes in the latest stage of the company’s trek around the UK in search of a viable site. Originally with a premises in West Bromwich, the company had hoped to set up in Hayes in the London borough of Hillingdon.
The plant would have been the UK’s only dedicated nappy recycling facility and process around 36,000 tonnes per year of absorbent hygiene products (AHPs). Plastics from the waste products would be recycled for items including roof tiles, plastic pellets and pet litter.
Knowaste originally submitted plans for the new facility in September 2015, following the closure of its original plant, in West Bromwich in 2013. However, the Canadian owned company withdrew its planning application on March 1 2016 after the council requested more details regarding the odour management system. The plans were then resubmitted, along with an Odour Impact Assessment (OIA) on May 12 2016.
The report authored by Entran Limited, an environmental and transportation consultancy firm, found that the impact for the majority of surroundings would be negligible.
The application was then rejected in July 2016, with planning officers citing the proposed plant’s proximity to a school, as well as the company’s ‘significant’ underestimation of noxious odour emissions as reasons to refuse the application.
Knowaste then launched an appeal over Hillingdon borough council’s descision. However, a recent statement on the company’s website notedthat the appeal has been dismissed. The Planning Inspectorate concluded: “the impact of odour on the living conditions of sensitive receptors, would not be outweighed by other considerations.”
Disappointed
Paul Richardson, UK business development director at Knowaste said: “We’re disappointed at the planning inspector’s decision.”
The business development director told letsrecycle.com that the company was ‘reviewing’ its position in the UK and was also now considering several potential sites in East London.
It is understood that Dagenham could still be one possible location for the nappy recycling plant. The waste firm had originally considered a site in Dagenham for a second facility in 2012.
A statement on Knowaste’s website reads: “We have been notified that the planning decision appeal for Hayes has been dismissed. We regret the decision and are actively reviewing our options for the UK marketplace.”
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