Landfill closure spurs East Sussex search

The call from the local authorities comes as they face up to the closure of the countys last remaining landfill site and a shortage of built facilities for recycling.

Residents, landowners, public bodies and those representing the waste industry are to be asked what additional sites they think would be suitable to sort, recover and recycle waste in the area, with a shortlist to be delivered for public consultation in spring 2014.

A green plan for dealing with waste collectively was adopted by East Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and South Downs National Park Authority in February this year.

Although no sites have so far been suggested, those already being considered include general industrial land, land for employment, previously developed land and land presently used for waste management.

Once completed, operations undertaken at the facilities will include waste storage, shredding, sorting and composting.

Figures for 2012/13 for East Sussex are expected to show a combined recycling and composting rate of 39.2%. But, faced with the closure of the Pebsham landfill site now at full capacity and due to close in 12 months time, the county needs site for new facilities if it is to raise its recycling rate.

Preparation

Commercial waste remains an issue for the authorities with sites needed to cope with it and potentially prepare some material for RDF.

With no plans in place to open more landfill sites, lead member for the environment at East Sussex County Council Cllr Carl Maynard said the construction of recycling and recovery facilities was more important than ever.

He said: We need more recycling and recovery facilities to ensure East Sussex is dealing effectively and sustainably with waste produced in the county.

Any new planning application for waste management will take into account the concerns and interest of the local community and take advantage of any benefits for those communities.

Cllr Pete West, chair of Brighton & Hove City Councils environment committee added: In Brighton & Hove we are focused on providing as much support as we can to encourage everyone to minimise the waste they produce and save resources. We urge residents to ask themselves whether items could be repaired or re-used before throwing them away, and to compost and recycle as much waste as possible.

While we are pleased that no new landfill sites are being proposed as a way of disposing of waste in East Sussex and Brighton, we still need to take responsibility for the waste we produce and identify potential sites for further recycling and recovery facilities.