A combination of warmer temperatures and increased rainfall has seen green waste composting carry on long after summer has officially ended in recent years. But the associated costs of dealing with excess run off (water falling on site that runs off into storage containers) are increasing.
Rainfall
SITA composting manager Stephen Wise commented on the extra rainfall: “That's something that the industry will have to consider more and more. Traditionally, we can use a lot of water back on the site, but if we are getting extra water, we have got to get rid of it and that's a cost.” Excess water must be removed in tankers for disposal.
If rainfall continues to rise, Dr Wise said: “I think it will be a concern for industry if we have still got lots of open sites like this. Price-wise, it's not affecting us in the short term, but when we start to go for contracts, we will need to factor this in. As an estimate, it could cost as much as another pound a tonne.” Contracts between composters and local authorities currently set the price of green waste disposal at 18-24 per tonne.
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