MoreThanWaste.com - Viridor-Laing consortium present Rochdale plant proposals (09/03/2007)

" The GMWDA serves approximately 958,000 households and a resident population of over 2 million, hence the substantial scale of the PFI"

Earlier this week Viridor-Laing presented their proposals for development work in Rochdale to members of the public. The Viridor-Laing consortium was announced as preferred bidder for the Greater Manchester PFI contract in January.

The site of the proposed Waithlands Waste Resource Centre is just over half a mile east of Rochdale town centre and north of the existing Household Waste Recycling Site in Chichester Street.

The Rochdale complex includes a materials recycling facility (MRF), a waste transfer station, and an in-vessel composting plant (IVC).

This development complex would represent one element of the infrastructure network as part of the consortium’s record £3b PFI partnership with Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) in partnership with the other Greater Manchester authorities.

Representatives of Viridor/Laing were on hand to provide details of the recycling-led facility to Rochdale residents over 2 days at a Rochdale hotel.

Consultations are taking place both to inform the public and also as an input to a future planning submission for the waste resource centre which MoreThanWaste will report on at a later stage.

Greater Manchester

Viridor’s proposed Waithlands Waste Resource Centre

Greater Manchester produces some 1.4 million tonnes of municipal wastes a year and volumes are increasing.

The GMWDA serves approximately 958,000 households and a resident population of over 2 million, hence the substantial scale of the PFI.

In 2005-06, the GMWDA and the nine Districts of Greater Manchester which it serves, together recycled over 170,000 tonnes of waste. This represented a recycling rate of 22% overall.

This figure was 2% above the 20% combined rate set by the Government for Greater Manchester. The rate had almost trebled within the previous 3 years.

The areas covered by the Authority comprise the Districts of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. The other council from the former GMC area is Wigan, which is itself a statutory waste disposal authority as it chose an independent path when the Greater Manchester Council was dissolved in 1985.

The proposals

Should planning permission be obtained, a site office and a staff and visitor welfare facility would be provided in addition to the 3 main elements of the center which are a transfer loading station, a materials recycling facility and an in-vessel composting facility.

Transfer Loading Station (TLS)

The Transfer Loading Station would receive non-hazardous, non-recyclable waste materials from refuse collection vehicles for bulking up and onward transfer.

Waste sorting and processing would take place within a fully enclosed building equipped with air-extract ventilation using a wet scrubber system for the comfort of staff. The venting system would remove all risk of potential odours according to Viridor.

The TLS is intended to operate 7 days per week, though with reduced hours on Sundays.

All vehicles leaving the site would be required to use a wheelwash.

Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

The MRF is intended to increase recycling rates for materials like glass, plastics, and metals that are gathered through kerbside recycling collections. This in turn would reduce the quantities that Greater Manchester disposes of to landfill. The facility would also accept and bulk paper and card which is collected separately.

The MRF would be fully enclosed and separated from the surrounding environment.

The plant is anticipated to have a throughput capacity of 65,000 tonnes per annum based on twin shift working and would operate from Monday to Saturday each week.

Viridor intends that the MRF would support the introduction of kerbside recycling collections in Rochdale, Bury, Oldham and Bolton.

In-Vessel Composting Facility (IVC)

The IVC would have the capacity to compost around 25,000 tonnes a year of biodegradable wastes from Rochdale and Oldham. This should divert an equivalent quantity from landfill.

Wastes received would be pre-treated in a bio-chopper to prepare for processing which would take place in TEGs silo cages. The composting process is naturally aerated and fully monitored via computer linked systems.

Viridor says that all operations would take place within an enclosed building with a controlled atmosphere. This would be beneficial for staff, the composting process, and the local environment by minimising any risk of odours.

The plant would operate from Monday to Saturday each week, though with reduced hours on a Saturday.

Further information

Further information on the proposals can be found on the Viridor website.


	Viridor-Laing consortium present Rochdale plant proposals (09/03/2007) " The GMWDA serves approximately 958,000 households and a resident population of over 2 million, hence the substantial scale of the PFI" Earlier this week Viridor-Laing presented their proposals for development work in Rochdale to members of the public. The Viridor-Laing consortium was announced as preferred bidder for the Greater Manchester PFI contract in January. The site of the proposed Waithlands Waste Resource Centre is just over half a mile east of Rochdale town centre and north of the existing Household Waste Recycling Site in Chichester Street. The Rochdale complex includes a materials recycling facility (MRF), a waste transfer station, and an in-vessel composting plant (IVC). This development complex would represent one element of the infrastructure network as part of the consortium’s record £3b PFI partnership with Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) in partnership with the other Greater Manchester authorities. Representatives of Viridor/Laing were on hand to provide details of the recycling-led facility to Rochdale residents over 2 days at a Rochdale hotel. Consultations are taking place both to inform the public and also as an input to a future planning submission for the waste resource centre which MoreThanWaste will report on at a later stage. Greater Manchester Viridor’s proposed Waithlands Waste Resource Centre Greater Manchester produces some 1.4 million tonnes of municipal wastes a year and volumes are increasing. The GMWDA serves approximately 958,000 households and a resident population of over 2 million, hence the substantial scale of the PFI. In 2005-06, the GMWDA and the nine Districts of Greater Manchester which it serves, together recycled over 170,000 tonnes of waste. This represented a recycling rate of 22% overall. This figure was 2% above the 20% combined rate set by the Government for Greater Manchester. The rate had almost trebled within the previous 3 years. The areas covered by the Authority comprise the Districts of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. The other council from the former GMC area is Wigan, which is itself a statutory waste disposal authority as it chose an independent path when the Greater Manchester Council was dissolved in 1985. The proposals Should planning permission be obtained, a site office and a staff and visitor welfare facility would be provided in addition to the 3 main elements of the center which are a transfer loading station, a materials recycling facility and an in-vessel composting facility. Transfer Loading Station (TLS) The Transfer Loading Station would receive non-hazardous, non-recyclable waste materials from refuse collection vehicles for bulking up and onward transfer. Waste sorting and processing would take place within a fully enclosed building equipped with air-extract ventilation using a wet scrubber system for the comfort of staff. The venting system would remove all risk of potential odours according to Viridor. The TLS is intended to operate 7 days per week, though with reduced hours on Sundays. All vehicles leaving the site would be required to use a wheelwash. Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) The MRF is intended to increase recycling rates for materials like glass, plastics, and metals that are gathered through kerbside recycling collections. This in turn would reduce the quantities that Greater Manchester disposes of to landfill. The facility would also accept and bulk paper and card which is collected separately. The MRF would be fully enclosed and separated from the surrounding environment. The plant is anticipated to have a throughput capacity of 65,000 tonnes per annum based on twin shift working and would operate from Monday to Saturday each week. Viridor intends that the MRF would support the introduction of kerbside recycling collections in Rochdale, Bury, Oldham and Bolton. In-Vessel Composting Facility (IVC) The IVC would have the capacity to compost around 25,000 tonnes a year of biodegradable wastes from Rochdale and Oldham. This should divert an equivalent quantity from landfill. Wastes received would be pre-treated in a bio-chopper to prepare for processing which would take place in TEGs silo cages. The composting process is naturally aerated and fully monitored via computer linked systems. Viridor says that all operations would take place within an enclosed building with a controlled atmosphere. This would be beneficial for staff, the composting process, and the local environment by minimising any risk of odours. The plant would operate from Monday to Saturday each week, though with reduced hours on a Saturday. Further information Further information on the proposals can be found on the Viridor website.