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 Target: to recycle 40% of household waste by 2005  |
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Target: to recycle 40% of household waste by 2005 |
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| Hampshire, along with many
other local authorities in the UK, is finding that implementing effective ways of managing
domestic waste is becoming increasingly difficult. We have an acute household rubbish
problem and are running out of time to resolve it, unless action is taken quickly. This document contains proposals for dealing with your household rubbish right in to the second decade of the new millennium. We need you to consider the proposals now because the problem is urgent. The paper was produced in September 1995
Hampshire, along with many other local authorities in the UK, is finding that implementing effective ways of managing domestic waste is becoming increasingly difficult. We have an acute household rubbish problem and are running out of time to resolve it, unless action is taken quickly. Rubbish has now become a big issue. Many people already see the environmental implications of living in a 'throw away' society. They dislike the waste of natural resources and the environmental impacts of the processes we use to dispose of waste. Clearly we need to do more to conserve our natural resources and to see that what we buy can also be reused and recycled. This means that a new and more complex system for dealing with waste is required. Our old solutions no longer meet the problem and new solutions do not always receive public support. For example:
This document contains proposals for dealing with your household rubbish right into the second decade of the new millennium. We need you to consider the proposals and comment NOW because the problem is urgent. Decisions will need to be taken in early 1996 to set in motion the process for building a new range of facilities to handle the waste we produce. Please read this document, discuss it with others and let us know whether you agree with the proposals; provide us with any comments or concerns; and if you disagree please let us have your alternatives.Write to the address on the back page, where all responses from everywhere in Hampshire are being co-ordinated.
Getting rid of rubbish seems to generate a big public debate every 25 to 30 years. In the early 1970s our rubbish tips were filling up and no acceptable replacements were available in the more urbanised parts of the county. In order to protect Hampshire's countryside five incinerators were built, which reduced the volume of waste by a third. These incinerators were expensive to build but have done their job very well. They have saved about four million tonnes of rubbish going direct to landfill, equivalent to saving five medium-sized landfill sites. During their lives we have learnt much more about the emissions they produce and steps have been taken to substantially reduce these. Now, these incinerators are reaching the end of their lives. By the end of 1996 they will close as they will not meet European regulations. Meanwhile, in spite of the waste handled by the incinerators, household waste continued to grow - from 615,000 tonnes in 1988 to 738,000 tonnes in 1995 and the landfill sites continued to fill up. Many sites have already become full (of the 17 sites that existed in 1988 only eight now remain). Those remaining are almost full and in many places there are no acceptable replacements. New solutions, such as expanded recycling programmes, are now coming into place but require different collection systems and processing plants as well as a publicity programme to encourage people to participate. In 1991 Hampshire recycled under 5% of its household waste, and this included the metals produced from a metal extraction unit in one of the incinerators. The progress being made by the district authorities (who have the statutory responsibility for collecting waste), will see in place by the end of 1995 the largest doorstep collection system for recyclable material in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe. Already 11 out of the 13 districts have introduced pilot collection schemes and soon some 155,000 homes will be able to put out paper, card, plastic, glass, cans, and/or compostables in a separate box or bag ready to be taken to three new materials recycling facilities (MRFs: pronounced MURFs) where they are processed and sent on to recycling plants for reuse. Already the recycling rate in these areas has risen to 15-20% and the county average has moved up to 8%. District authorities are planning to have all suitable households on this system within five years. Although we expect to see different rates in different areas the Government target of 25% is within sight. We are very pleased with this progress and are told that, for a population the size (1.5 million) and diversity (land mass and large rural population) of Hampshire, that there are no schemes in either Europe or the USA that have achieved this level in such a short time. This has led us to set a potential recycling rate of 40% in our proposed waste management strategy. We have adopted this target after investigating many other locations for which much higher percentages had been quoted. We have found that they included large volumes of commercial waste in their calculations, or were small pilot programmes with very different geographic and social challenges from those of Hampshire. In spite of these efforts there will still be over 440,000 tonnes of non-recyclable or residual waste to deal with annually. Waste also continues to increase at a rate of between 1-3% each year. It was because of the recognition that this problem lay ahead that, in 1986, the County Council (which has the statutory responsibility for disposing of the waste collected by district authorities), started work on a Waste Management Plan. This plan surveyed how much landfill was left, considered how many tonnes of waste would need to be disposed of in the future, and also considered the need to do much more than merely getting rid of it. The plan suggested that processes for waste minimisation, reuse and recycling needed to be put in place so that the amount of waste needing final disposal could be greatly reduced. It also proposed new incinerators that could produce electricity using the rubbish that could not be recycled as a fuel. Three tonnes of waste is equivalent to one tonne of coal. In 1991 the County Council began to consult on the proposals which were based on this plan. They included a proposal to build a new energy from waste incinerator in Portsmouth to handle the residual rubbish produced in the southern part of the county -some 350,000 tonnes in total. Projects of this size take several years to develop, obtain the necessary planning and operating permissions as well as a further two years to build. It was hoped that the new facility would be up and running before the existing network was exhausted. In the event this plan was unsuccessful because people in the area expressed concern with the size and impact of the proposal. Two points emerged from the debate: First, people wanted evidence that local authorities were committed to waste minimisation, and were prepared to put in place the necessary facilities to enable residents to reuse and recycle as much waste as possible. Second, there was vociferous opposition to both the process of incineration, and to new landfill facilities. People asked for evidence that emissions and other health and safety impacts could be controlled, and that they would be consulted and involved in designing an appropriate way forward. Although the abandtonment of the Portsmouth proposal was a major setback which placed pressure on existing facilities, it had the positive outcome ofgetting people involved in the debate. All the Hampshire local authorities - the 13 district councils that collect our rubbish, and the County Council that arranges for its treatment and disposal, got together to produce a new approach. They also agreed to put in place an extensive consultation process with Hampshire residents to ensure that the new plan was communicated, and citizen concerns identified and addressed.
We plan to expand existing and develop new waste minimisation programmes. We have set a target to keep the amount of dustbin waste at existing levels taking into account population increase. With waste levels currently expanding at a rate of 1-3% a year we believe that this will be an important target to reach or exceed. The activities highlighted in the centre section of this document have received very favourable support and the suggestions made by the various groups will he co-ordinated in a countywide waste minimisation plan. In spite of these activities we believe that 800,000 tonnes of waste will still be left to be dealt with in the year 2000.
The purpose of this document is to seek your views prior to the final choice being made early in 1996. It is vital for you to have your say now because next year's decision will set in place a system that will form the basis of the infrastructure that is expected to last for the next 25 years. HWS need to be given a firm specification to implement Project Integra. We would like your response to the following questions The overall strategy: Do you agree that the overall strategy is an appropriate way forward, aiming to:
If not:
Waste Minimisation As indicated, the strategy calls for an increased effort in waste minimisation so as to keep dustbin waste volumes at 1995 volumes.
Recycling The strategy calls for a dramatically increased effort to improve existing recycling totals, aiming for a 40% average recycling rate across the county. This will require not only the active participation of Hampshire residents but also national markets to reprocess the recycled materials into useful products.
Incineration The only feasible options for disposal of residual waste are incineration and/or landfill. The stategy calls for the building of three new energy-from-waste incinerators to replace the existing five incinerators after they shut down in 1996. The new facilities will be designed with a capacity that represents 75% of the waste remaining.
Responsiveness to 'host' community We know that few people want to see a waste facility built in their area, and yet we must start to build the facilities that will ensure that waste is managed effectively well into the next century.
Landfill Landfill will continue to be necessary for some of the waste remaining, including bulky household rubbish. It would also be used for the ash from the incinerators until such time as this also can be recycled into useful products for construction use. Much of the landfill in Hampshire is now either full or reaching capacity and, unless additional sites become available, it is likely that waste will have to be disposed of through land raising or, on an interim basis, to out-of-county sites.
From now until mid-December is an important period, as we would like your responses to the questions by then. We want the views of as many people as possible, so as well as community organisations, environmental groups and other formal groups we aim to get as many individuals involved. Copies of this document will be distributed widely. A summary leaflet will be available in libraries, local information points and other public places. We will also seek local media coverage as well as continuing with a public awareness campaign. A number of groups will be set up in each of the three regions where views and opinions focusing on the questions in this document will be sought from local residents. We will also conduct further research to gauge people's views. Early in 1996 a decision will need to be made by the local authorities on the specific proposals so that Hampshire Waste Services can proceed to put in place an integrated and flexible system by the end of the century. As part of this process HWS will make final decisions about choice of sites. Write to the address below where all responses from everywhere in Hampshire are being co-ordinated.
You can also telephone comments on the 'Wasteline' 0345 697968 or fax us on (01962) 877497, or email suruxn@hants.gov.uk |
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