Case Study

FCC Environment helps Wrexham Council achieve Government recycling target

Working in partnership with FCC Environment, Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) is exceeding local and European recycling targets, handling approximately 80,000 tonnes of municipal waste a year.

Background With FCC Environment’s help, The largest town in the north of Wales, Wrexham will achieve Wrexham is a major centre for the region’s commercial, retail and educational the new statutory infrastructure. Wrexham county borough recycling target of covers 50,500 hectares and has a 52% by 2012/13, set by population of over 130,000. the Welsh Government WCBC and FCC Environment, previously Waste Recycling Group (WRG), signed a for all local authorities. private finance initiative (PFI) agreement in 2007 to build and run a new recycling facility in Wrexham. Simultaneously, the FCC Environment’s approach to household waste recycling centres at deliver a sustainable future Brymbo and Plas Madoc underwent major refurbishment, enabling residents to recycle • We are keen to promote waste as a valuable more of their waste. The existing household resource in line with the European Waste waste recycling centre at Bryn Lane was Framework Directive also brought under operational control of • Our experienced team operate more than FCC Environment. 200 recycling and renewable energy sites in the UK offering municipal and business waste Wrexham Council was allocated £40 solutions for companies of all sizes million by the Welsh Government over a 25 year period to develop the recycling park • FCC Group are industry leaders in Energy from which is the first of its type to be funded Waste with EfW plants throughout Europe under PFI in Wales. • We work in partnership with local authorities, schools and community groups to raise The development of Wrexham Recycling awareness of the need for a more Park has enabled Wrexham to reach, sustainable future. maintain and exceed recycling targets set by the Welsh Government and European legislation. WORKING WITH • The recycling park was WREXHAM COUNCIL officially opened by Jane Davidson, Assembly Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in October 2009 To help WCBC meet and exceed • The site includes an in-vessel targets set by local and European composting (IVC) facility, a legislation and to minimise the amount materials recycling facility (MRF) of municipal waste sent to landfill, FCC and a small transfer station Environment worked in partnership • The site also houses an education with the Council to design and centre and provides a full time construct Wrexham Recycling Park. educational recycling officer to teach school children about the Wrexham Recycling Park is operated by FCC importance of reducing, reusing, Environment on behalf of Wrexham Council recycling and composting waste and currently processes circa 29,000 tonnes of • The in-vessel composting (IVC) recyclable materials per year, with the household of green waste, food waste and waste recycling centres handling circa 16,000 cardboard has enabled up to 1,000 tonnes of recyclable materials per year. tonnes of soil improver a year to be made available to the public and for use in local parks and gardens • The soil improver is accredited to the industry standard, PAS100 • The project has been awarded a Carbon Trust certification standard mark, to signify the 14% reduction in carbon emissions achieved over a three-year period.

The Wrexham Recycling Park joint project has received a number of industry accolades and in 2010 won the Excellence Wales Status award – a public service award which is run by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. “The opening of this facility follows many years of hard work by officers and members to ensure that Wrexham is able to dispose of the The Results majority of household waste with minimum 33,000 tonnes of waste was received use of unsustainable and expensive landfill. and processed at Wrexham Recycling “We are confident that we will reach our Park in 2010/2011. recycling targets in future years and Tonnage by material: look forward to a continuing successful • Paper, card and magazines – 5,470 partnership with FCC Environment.” • Soft plastics – 993 Chief Executive, Wrexham County Borough Council • Mixed glass – 4,050 • Steel cans – 645 For more information, contact • Aluminium cans – 236 tel 01604 826200 • Street sweepings and gully waste – 4,052 web www.fccenvironment.co.uk • Food, garden waste and cardboard – 17,606.

Published by FCC Environment, Ground Floor West, 900 Pavilion Drive, Northampton Business Park, Northampton, NN4 7RG. www.fccenvironment.co.uk