The Minosus project is to use the old Winsford salt mine in Cheshire to store about 100,000 tonnes of hazardous waste each year.
”We are now able to put the necessary construction work in hand to have our operation at Winsford in business by June.“
– Roger Shaw, Minosus
The project had been given a green light by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in December in 2003, but this decision was then challenged by a local resident on the grounds of traffic concerns.
But a judgement from Mr Justice Harrison on Friday quashed this final legal challenge, giving Minosus the go-ahead to begin construction work. It is now expected to be in operation by June 2005, in time for new regulations classifying more waste materials as hazardous.
Commenting on the decision, Minosus managing director Roger Shaw said: “We are pleased with today's outcome, because it means we are now able to put the necessary construction work in hand to have our operation at Winsford in business by June of next year.
Important
“The timing is important because in July 2005, legislation on waste acceptance criteria comes info force, meaning that an underground facility like ours becomes even more important for the safe disposal of certain hazardous wastes,” Mr Shaw explained.
Minosus is a joint venture between US company Salt Union and waste management company Onyx. The Winsford site was given an integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) permit by the Environment Agency back in September.
The company says its facility has a constant temperature and humidity because it is 560 feet below ground level. Minosus will use a 30-hectare area of the mine for non-reactive waste such as contaminated soils and residues from the non-ferrous metals and chemicals industries.
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