It is full steam ahead for the construction of Onyx Environmental Group’s new 13 million pound material recovery facility (MRF) on the A31 near Alton.

The first stage of the work, demolition of the site’s existing buildings, is now underway, paving the way for construction of the new world class cutting edge technology facility by contractors, Ballast Plc.

The new MRF will be the most advanced in Europe with the capacity to process 85,000 tonnes of recyclable material separately collected from households in Hampshire and the project is on schedule for completion in Autumn 2004.

The new MRF will be the second of the new generation of MRFs in Hampshire. The first, in Portsmouth, recently reached the milestone of processing 200,000 tonnes of recyclables.

The new facility at Alton forms a much needed part of the infrastructure being put in place by Project Integra for the handling of the county’s household waste.

Project Integra is a joint strategy by the county’s fourteen local authorities who work together with waste contractor, HWS, part of Onyx Environmental Group, to ensure that our waste is disposed of in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible.

"The county currently recycles around 25% of its waste, a massive 840,000 tonnes is collected in Hampshire each year," says John Collis, director of Hampshire Waste Services.

"The new facility in Alton is essential and I am delighted that work has started. Recycling has been warmly embraced by the county’s residents and about 90% of Hampshire homes now have a kerbside recycling collection.

"This second MRF will enable us all to work towards achieving the goal to recycle 40% and beyond."

The north eastern section of the site will be used as a waste transfer station for the transfer of non recyclable waste which will be taken for incineration or as a last resort, landfill.

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Issued by Sue Roberts, Polymedia, 01329 663194