Proposals to create a new £1.5M Household Waste Recycling Centre in Kirkby will be unveiled to local residents and businesses this week [18th June 2009].
The new Kirkby Household Waste Recycling Centre will be created on a vacant site (size 0.8 hectares or 2 acres) at the northern end of Knowsley Industrial Estate. The new site is approximately 300 metres from the existing facility, which it replaces.
The new Centre will increase recycling by providing more modern facilities including the capacity to receive 15,000 tonnes of householders’ waste a year, easier disposal of recyclables and more queuing space on site to cope with peak demand and avoid queuing on the highway.
Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) is this week launching a major consultation exercise to make sure more than 6,300 businesses and residents living close to the proposed facility receive all the details.
As well as newsletters and community meetings, special public engagement days will be held on Thursday 2nd July 2009 (11.30 am – 5.30 am) and Friday 3rd July 2009 (11.00 am – 7.00 pm) at Kirkby Fire Station, Webster Drive, Kirkby, Knowsley, L32 8SJ, as part of overall efforts designed to exceed consultation requirements set by Knowsley MBC.
MWDA Director, Carl Beer, said: “This is a major investment in the area and recycling on Merseyside. It will be an asset for the people of Knowsley and it is vital that everyone living and working nearby has accurate information about the proposal. That’s why we are going to such lengths to get in touch with them.”
MWDA chair Councillor Kevin Cluskey said: “This is great news and will really add to the increasing array of facilities we need to put the region at the top of recycling tables.”
The Waste Disposal Authority will submit a full planning application later in the summer once initial consultation is complete and, subject to planning permission, the new site will be up and running by the end of 2010.
MWDA’s new contractor Veolia Environmental Services will operate the site following application to the Environment Agency for an Environmental Permit.
Details of the proposal are available here.
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS
1. MWDA is a local government body consisting of nine elected Members, representing the five constituent district councils in the Merseyside area. MWDA is also working with Halton Borough Council to provide new recycling and waste facilities. MWDA is responsible for organising and managing the disposal of waste collected by the five District Councils of Merseyside and for managing the 14 HWRCs across Merseyside. See more at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk
2. Merseyside produces over 800,000 tonnes of household waste every year – of which only about a quarter is recycled (estimated at 33% in years ending 2008/09). Around 70% of the region’s waste is sent to landfill, and tough EU and government targets are designed to reduce this figure, with landfill tax currently at a rate of £40 per tonne rising by £8 per year to 2013.
PICTURE CAPTION
The attached picture is a computer-generated image of proposed new household waste recycling centre.
All media enquiries to Jon Flinn on Tel: 0151 709 0505