Somerset states ambition for new waste diversion efforts

Councillors met last Wednesday to discuss the consultation process, which will assess a range of waste treatment technologies that could be used to divert waste from landfill.

The county council said it had been monitoring what other local authorities have been doing, and now believes it can find new ways to drastically cut landfill rates, in line with government landfill limits.

A spokeswoman for the council told letsrecycle.com the work should culminate in a major public consultation in March next year.

Fines
Although Somerset is already achieving a 31% recycling rate for household waste the county council is concerned at “heavy fines” it faces under Defra's Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme.

It said over the next two years, “extensive consultations” will test proposals with residents, businesses and the waste industry to identify suitable sites and treatment processes for Somerset's waste.

The council said this would include new facilities for sorting waste for further recycling and composting, as well as the production of fuel.

Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey, portfolio holder for transport, highways and waste, said: “Somerset county council has been watching closely as other councils around the country started the process of transition to more sustainable methods of waste disposal. It is now time for Somerset to identify alternative disposal methods, which will allow future generations to continue to enjoy the landscape as we are able to now.

“The county council will ensure that all proposals are considered with sensitivity to local residents and the environment alike” Cllr Prior-Sankey added.

Targets
About 275,900 tonnes of household waste was generated by Somerset's households during 2004/05. To meet its Defra LATS targets, the county must reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill each year from 170,000 tonnes in 2005/06 to just 54,000 tonnes by 2020.

Over 90% of Somerset households are offered kerbside recycling services already, while the county's 18 recycling centres – operated by contractors Wyvern Waste – are achieving recycling rates averaging 68% of material received.