New recycling facility that will help divert the
Worcestershire and Herefordshire's waste from landfill officially
unveiled
A new state-of-the-art facility that will
recycle and divert tonnes of Worcestershire and Herefordshire's
waste from landfill has been officially unveiled by Worcestershire
County Council, Herefordshire Council and Severn Waste
Services.
Worcestershire County Council Chairman, Cllr
John Cairns, joined Cllr John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council's
Cabinet Member for the Environment and Strategic Housing, to open
EnviroSort, which is permitted to receive up to 105,000
tonnes of materials per year, at a special event yesterday (March
16) attended by councillors and members of the local community.
The facility, based in Norton, near Worcester,
will accept waste from Worcestershire and Herefordshire, allowing
for a significant increase in the amount of materials recycled from
across the two counties.
The impressive site, which is operated by
Severn Waste Services for Worcestershire County Council and
Herefordshire Council, received planning permission in July 2007.
It covers 5.8 acres, has more than a mile of conveyer belts, 145
electric motors and 12 miles of cable.
More materials than ever before can now be
recycled from across the two counties – meaning less waste is sent
to landfill sites therefore benefiting the environment.
The facility, which started accepting
materials in November, 2009, can sort items including:
- Paper, newspapers and magazines
- Cardboard
- Mixed plastic containers including yoghurt
pots and food trays
- Drink cartons
- Steel and aluminium cans
- Glass bottles and jars.
The sophisticated sorting processes this new
facility boasts means Worcestershire and Herefordshire residents
will benefit by being able to place all recyclable materials in a
single container.
Cllr Anthony Blagg, Worcestershire
County Council Cabinet Member for Waste and Sustainability,
said: "This fantastic new facility will make a big
difference when it comes to recycling for people across
Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The benefits EnviroSort will
bring will make helping divert more from landfill easier than ever
before.
"As well as all this it also offers value for
money for people in the two counties as this facility will play a
key role when it comes to meeting the challenge of future national
landfill avoidance targets."
Cllr John Jarvis, Herefordshire
Council Cabinet Member for the Environment and Strategic Housing,
said: "Herefordshire's residents have risen to the
challenge and are making great use of the newly introduced wheelie
bins. Their standard of recycling is exceptionally high. The
opening of this key facility marks the next stage in our programme
to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and is a
significant step forward in cutting the county's carbon
footprint."
Mercia Waste Management Director, John
Plant, said: "Envirosort is a key component in the
integrated waste management system we are developing on behalf of
Worcestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council. It
will help the councils achieve the challenging government targets
set for the diversion of waste from landfill as well as recovering
resources from waste."
What items are accepted as recyclables depends
according to the collection authorities. To find out more visit
www.envirosort.co.uk,
which also includes a video explaining what goes on inside and
outside EnviroSort.
A wealth of information and advice on the many
ways residents can start reducing even more waste is available at
www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk
Worcestershire County Council Chairman, Cllr
John Cairns (left), and Cllr John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council
Cabinet Member for the Environment, to 'push the button' to
officially open the EnviroSort facility.
Cllr John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council
Cabinet Member for the Environment (left), and Worcestershire
County Council Chairman, Cllr John Cairns, officially unveil the
plaque to mark the opening of the EnviroSort facility.