Date: 02 April 2007 19:50

PLANNERS BACK REGION'S MOST MODERN WASTE TREATMENT SCHEME

County planning chiefs have backed an application by Cambridgeshire firm 
Donarbon Limited to build the region's most modern waste treatment plant at 
Waterbeach.

The company propose to build a mechanical biological treatment plant which 
first sorts black bag rubbish, removes material for recycling and then 
composts it. The scheme also includes a visitor centre where people and 
schools can learn more about recycling and the plant which uses 
environmentally friendly methods to treat the waste.

Donarbon propose building the plant on their existing Waste Management Park 
at Waterbeach located off the A10 between Waterbeach and Chittering. This is 
already used for sorting, recycling, treating and composting green waste 
from Cambridgeshire.

Members of Cambridgeshire County Council's Development Control Committee 
supported the proposals.

With housing development growing in Cambridgeshire and Government imposing 
tough financial penalties on over use of landfill it is important the 
County's rubbish is recycled as much as possible.

The facility would treat mixed household waste in two ways:
* Mechanical - separation and sorting to recover recyclable materials such 
as metals and plastic bottles and remove other materials suitable for 
further processing or use.
* Biological - the remaining waste from the mechanical process is then 
composted inside a building to reduce its biodegradability and after about 
6-weeks a compost-like material is produced. This material could be used as 
a soil conditioner or deposited in landfill.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor, John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for 
Environment and Community Services, said: "It is vital that we plan properly 
the facilities needed to deal with the thousands of tonnes of rubbish 
produced in Cambridgeshire while balancing those facilities with the needs 
of the local community and environment. The Government has made it quite 
clear that landfilling large amounts of waste is not an option anymore and 
more environmentally friendly ways of managing rubbish has to be used. This 
new facility will put Cambridgeshire at the forefront in the region for 
managing waste."

The facility and associated infrastructure would occupy approximately three 
hectares and encompass three new large buildings. The proposed new buildings 
have been designed to a high standard, using where possible, recycled 
building materials and environmentally friendly techniques and would be no 
higher than the existing waste transfer building already on the site.

The site layout has been designed to minimise the impact of the operations 
on nearby residents and the surrounding area. All waste processing 
operations will take place within the buildings and the working areas are 
well screened from the nearest residential properties. The location and 
layout of the buildings seek to ensure that noise, odours and litter will be 
controlled and treated in a managed environment. Assessments submitted in 
support of the planning application conclude there is likely to be an 
overall reduction in noise from the site at nearby properties.

The facility would process the waste streams currently accepted at the site. 
These include mixed household wastes from Cambridgeshire and other municipal 
wastes within a local catchment area. Current estimates on the tonnage 
required to be processed in the County range from 143,000 to 188,000 tonnes 
per year over the next 30 years.

The proposed hours of operation are the same as the existing permitted 
operation i.e. wastes can be delivered to the site between 7am and 6pm Mon 
to Fri, 7am to 4pm on Sat and between 9am and 4pm on Sun and Bank Holidays. 
The MBT facility is likely to operate between 6am to 9pm Mon to Fri and 6am 
to 2pm on Sat.

Donarbon consider there will only be a minimal increase in Heavy Commercial 
Vehicle (HCV) movements with the addition of a few more movements from the 
west of the County. It is estimated traffic will increase by 10 HCV 
movements per day. Access will continue to be via the existing roundabout 
off the A10 into the Waste Management Park.

The proposal also includes administrative offices together with a proposed 
education/visitors' centre which would provide a modern, purpose-built venue 
for receiving school and university parties and other interested groups or 
individuals who wish to learn more about waste management and recycling.

John Reynolds