Veolia granted permission to replace Alton MRF with AD plant

Veolia has plans for a new MRF in Eastleigh to process Hampshire recyclables, which means the Alton facility will become redundant.

In a decision document handed down earlier this month, it was noted that “the on-site waste transfer station (WTS) will be retained”. The replacement AD facility plans to use both kerbside and commercial organic waste and “not crops grown specifically for this purpose”, the document also noted. 

Works

Detailing the works to be carried out on the Alton site, the document set out that they will include the demolition of part of existing building as well as the provision of waste reception, pre-treatment and odour abatement facility. Also to be added are a pasteurisation plant and anaerobic digestion and buffering tanks with a gas treatment facility, which is also referred to as the ‘gas to grid’ facility, and combined heat and power units and an emergency flare.

The partial demolition would concern the existing eastern end of the MRF and WTF building “to enable the construction of the AD tank area”, with the remaining building “to be repurposed to provide a WTS and the AD waste reception and processing activities”, the document continued. It noted that gas treatment, CHP engines, flare and a further digestate tank would be located to the north of the site.

MRFs

The existing MRF and WTS have been operational since 2005, the document continued, with the MRF sorting dry recyclable materials that are currently collected co-mingled from Hampshire’s local authority kerbside recycling collections. The planning permission allows for 125,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste per annum. 

The Eastleigh MRF is however set to accept 135,000 tonnes of dry recyclable material. Alongside the increased capacity, the Eastleigh facility is also hoped to enable the introduction of a twin-stream collection system that would comply with the government’s requirements for consistency in kerbside recycling services. On the other hand, Alton MRF is incapable of handling pots, tubs and trays (PTTs), plastic films, cartons or glass, the collection of which will be mandatory under the legislation (see letsrecycle.com story).