The start of a two-year construction project by Hills Waste Solutions to build Wiltshire’s first state-of-the-art waste treatment plant in Westbury formally started last week.
The £20million Northacre resource recovery facility is a significant investment by Hills which will help underpin its expansion into new markets. It is also a key element in Wiltshire Council’s strategy to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Once complete, 60,000 tonnes of household waste can be processed using mechanical biological treatment (MBT) in the facility located on the Northacre trading estate in Westbury under a contract agreed between Hills and Wiltshire Council.
Hills say that the facility will increase the proportion of Wiltshire’s municipal waste diverted away from landfill to more than 80 per cent, from a current performance of about 63 per cent and a total of less than 20 per cent a few years ago.
Alan Pardoe, Hills Group chairman said, “I’m delighted that construction is ready to start on the Hills’ Northacre facility. This is a significant milestone in both the company’s development and the way Wiltshire handles its household waste. In the coming months we’ll see innovative technology installed on the site by our contractors which will open up new markets for our company.”
Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for waste, property and development control services said, “This is one part of a package of measures Wiltshire Council is rolling out that will hugely reduce what we send to landfill.
“These measures, of which the construction of the Northacre facility is a major part, not only make environmental sense but financial sense for residents.”
The Hills’ Northacre facility will receive 60,000 tonnes of municipal waste from households in the county and, in doing so, help the county’s taxpayers avoid landfill tax, which will cost £80 per tonne by 2014.
It is estimated that the Hills’ Northacre facility will save significant council lorry miles per year as waste from the west of Wiltshire will no longer need to be transported to Hills’ landfill site at Lower Compton. By reducing the miles that these refuse collection vehicles travel, the facility has the potential to make a reduction in Wiltshire’s carbon footprint.
Initially the refuse derived fuel (RDF) produced will be transported by road to port and then shipped to Europe for use in renewable energy plants, but it is anticipated that the production of RDF will encourage the creation of a more local market.
MBT specialist, Entsorga Italia, is providing technology for the plant and Interserve plc has been awarded the design and build construction contract.
