Cornwall Waste Local Plan
March 2003
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN i ii CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Contents
Contents
Page
Foreword v
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Chapter 2 The Context for the Plan 5
Chapter 3 Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs 11
Chapter 4 The Overall Strategy for Waste: Management and Disposal 23
Chapter 5 The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities 31
Chapter 6 The Protection of the Environment 49
Chapter 7 The Control of Waste Management Facilities 57
Chapter 8 Monitoring and Review of the Plan 65
Plans of Existing Landfill Sites: United Downs 68 Connon Bridge 69 Lean Quarry 70
Inset Plans: Areas of Search for new Civic Amenity Facilities: Falmouth 71 Truro 72
Appendix 1 Waste Management Policies in the Cornwall Structure Plan, 1997 A2
Appendix 2 Definitions of Controlled Wastes A3
Appendix 3 Code of Practice for the Irrigation of Low Concentrate Leachate in Cornwall A5
Appendix 4 Inert Waste Landfill Sites and Recycling/ Transfer Sites in Cornwall (at 2002) A8
Appendix 5 Proposed Improvements to Waste Water Treatment Works in Cornwall A10 (2002 – 2005)
Appendix 6 Glossary of Technical Terms A11
Appendix 7 Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant A15
Appendix 8 Air Quality Issues. A 21
Appendix 9 Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and A 24 Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002)
Proposals Maps
Map 1 Cornwall Waste Local Plan Proposals Map
Inset Central Cornwall Area of Search for an Energy from Waste Plant
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN iii iv CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Foreword
Foreword
The need to achieve more sustainable methods of managing all wastes being produced represents a major challenge for Cornwall. This challenge faces each and every waste producer whether they are individual residents, small businesses, food factories, hospitals or large commercial premises. Important changes have already taken place including the reduction of discharges of untreated sewage to our coastal waters and the doubling of the recycling and composting rate of household waste since 1998. However, much more needs to be done.
The Cornwall Waste Local Plan sets out the broad framework for the treatment, management and disposal of wastes in the County. It represents a key component of the Development Plan for Cornwall and is an important function of the County Council’s duty as Waste Planning Authority. The Plan is also an important contribution to the waste debate taking place in Cornwall.
The formation of the Plan is the result of an intense effort and consultation over several years by the County Council. It reflects significant developments in Government waste policy, led in part by European guidance, and in waste management techniques and public opinion. The preparation process has also been informed by a range of studies carried out by the Authority and by independent consultants. The Plan was subject to a Public Local Inquiry in February/March 2002, led by an independent Planning Inspector.
We would both like to thank all those who have assisted in the production of the Plan, including those who have commented on its various versions and particularly those who attended the public local inquiry. The result is a robust and cohesive set of policies which will provide the context for decisions on planning applications for waste management facilities in Cornwall over the next decade.
Mr. R.E Hichens Mrs. P.A. Rowe Executive Portfolio holder Chairman of the Waste Plan Panel Strategic Planning and Transport Vice Chairman of the County Council
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN v vi CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 1
Introduction
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 1 Chapter 1 - Introduction
Background Government policy, the impact of environmental taxes and the development of new technologies. 1.1 Everyone produces waste, and it is These underline the need to maintain a regular essential that this waste is handled, treated and review of the Cornwall Waste Local Plan. disposed of in a way which is economical for the local community and business and which is also Key Issues sensitive to protection of the environment. Waste also represents a potential resource, from which materials, energy and value can be recovered. 1.5 The main issues which have been addressed in the Plan are :- 1.2 Difficult decisions have to be made regarding short, medium and long term waste ! the effective management of all waste planning and management in Cornwall for all arisings; waste streams. In particular, urgent consideration must be given to the management of the ! a re-examination of how waste is household, commercial and industrial waste currently handled; streams. Volumes of these wastes continue to increase while recovery materials through ! what new approaches should be adopted recycling and composting remain at a low level, in order to achieve a move away from not least because of economic, transport and the disposal of waste by landfill in order geographic difficulties. In 2001/2 88% of this to deal with future waste arisings; waste was disposed of at United Mines and Connon Bridge landfills. ! how to increase the current rates of re- use of waste and recovery of materials 1.3 This document provides a broad overall and energy; strategy for the management of future waste arisings in Cornwall, and provides the context ! provision of facilities and sites, i.e. what for the land-use policies against which and where. applications for waste management facilities will be assessed. To achieve the strategic objectives Background to the of this Plan will require the development of a suite of initiatives which are wider than the land Plan use approach alone. The achievement of strategic objectives will require the integration of new and 1.6 The first version of the Cornwall Waste existing waste management practices and the Local Plan, the “Consultation Draft”, was development of new initiatives such as waste published in March 1998, followed by a minimisation, stimulation of locally-based “Deposit Draft” in September 2000 and a markets for recycled materials, and the “Revised Deposit Draft” produced in June 2001. exploitation of the benefits of heat and power in Significant changes have been made between order to deliver wider benefits to the each version of the Plan in response to policy environment, economy and people of Cornwall. development at the European and national levels and in response to a detailed consideration of 1.4 The Plan, its conclusions and policies are consultation responses. Prior to the Deposit Draft based on realistic assessments of waste version the County Council commissioned two management and disposal needs. It should be independent studies into particular aspects of recognised however that there are many waste management in Cornwall. The first, variables which affect the overall waste picture, undertaken by AEA Environment Ltd, examined not all of which can be reliably predicted at the Best Practicable Environmental Option present. These include emerging European and (BPEO) for the management of Municipal Solid
2 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 1 - Introduction
Waste in Cornwall. The second study, by the ! clarification and improvement of the South West Energy Group, examined the policies and text underpinning this provision of Civic Amenity sites in Cornwall. version of the Plan. Following the publication of the Deposit Draft version of the Plan a focused study into the Best Policy Implementation Environmental Option for the Municipal Solid Waste Stream was undertaken using the Environment Agency’s WISARD analytical tool. 1.9 The individual policies and proposals of In addition, a study examining the feasibility of the Cornwall Waste Local Plan develop the transferring waste by rail in Cornwall was guiding principles and the spatial framework of undertaken on behalf of the County Council in the strategy outlined in the Structure Plan. There 2001. Copies of both the BPEO study and the are significant linkages between many policies WISARD study are available from the County and therefore the Plan should be viewed as a Council. whole. As well as policies S1, L1 and C1, the policies contained in the Environment Chapter 1.7 The County Council also commissioned are potentially relevant to all proposals. an independent strategic sustainable development appraisal of this Plan at key stages during its formulation. These were carried out by Land Use Consultants Ltd., examining the economic, social and environmental effects of the implementation of the Plan’s policies.
1.8 The principal changes to the Plan during its formulation include:-
! better information on arisings of individual waste streams;
! revised estimates on the production of the Municipal Solid Waste stream over the Plan period;
! inclusion of higher long term targets for recycling and composting;
! a reduction in quantities of waste going to landfill reflecting recently-stated Government targets;
! a revised area of search in the centre of Cornwall for an Energy from Waste plant;
! specific policy approaches for particular waste streams including the commercial and industrial waste stream and sewage sludge;
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 3 Chapter 1 - Introduction
4 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 2 - The Context for the Plan Chapter 2
The Context for the Plan
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 5 Chapter 2 - The Context for the Plan
The Statutory Basis of The EC Landfill Directive the Plan 2.3 The most significant policy instrument introduced since the publication of the 2.1 Cornwall County Council, in its role as originalConsultation Draft version of the Waste Waste Planning Authority, is required under the Local Plan is the EC Landfill Directive which is Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to prepare soon to be incorporated into the British a ‘Waste Local Plan’. regulatory system by the Government. The impact of this Directive will be to require European Policy substantial changes to the way waste is managed in Cornwall. The main objectives of the Directive are to ensure high and consistent 2.2 European law on waste matters is standards of landfill practice across the European contained in a range of Directives which set out Union; to stimulate recycling and recovery of various requirements for waste management waste; and to reduce emissions of methane (a practice in Member States and provide the powerful greenhouse gas). Most significantly the framework within which many of the national Directive requires a stepped reduction in the rules on waste guidance are now set. The quantities of biodegradable municipal waste Directive on Waste, followed by the Framework going to landfill. The Directive will also end the Directive on Waste, first introduced the “waste current practice of co-disposing of hazardous and hierarchy” outlined below. These Directives have non-hazardous wastes. The Government been implemented by the Waste Management negotiated a derogation (an agreed delay) of four Licensing Regulations 1994. These Regulations years (indicated in brackets below) on the dates place certain responsibilities on the County indicated in the Directive, on the basis that Council in drawing up a waste local plan which additional time is required to develop a range of require the inclusion in the plan of policies in alternative management techniques. respect of suitable waste disposal sites or installations and which can ensure that waste is Fig 2.1 EC Landfill Directive - Biodegradable recovered or disposed of without endangering Waste Diversion Rates human health or harming the environment. The Packaging Directive, implemented by the Year Requirement Packaging Regulations 1997, has set targets for 2001 Implementation date the recovery and recycling of packaging materials and products. The Regulations impose 2006 Reduce quantity of biodegradable certain obligations upon large businesses to (2010) municipal waste going to landfill to 75% reduce, over time, the amount of packaging that of 1995 levels. they use. The EC Integrated Pollution, Prevention and Control Directive will also have 2009 Reduce quantity of biodegradable (2013) municipal waste going to landfill to 50% a major impact on waste management during the of 1995 levels. Plan period. The emerging EC Directive on the Incineration of Waste will place increased levels 2016 Reduce quantity of biodegradable of control on incineration plants once (2020) municipal waste going to landfill to 35% incorporated in to the British system of of 1995 levels. regulation. These are predominantly implemented by the Environment Agency Note: The references to 1995 levels refer to arisings through the Integrated Pollution Prevention in that year and not disposals Control system. The Directive must be reflected in national law by 28 December 2002.
6 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 2 - The Context for the Plan
National Policy on a variety of complex factors, including local Context circumstances. In any particular case a systematic analysis of environmental and economic costs and benefits is necessary in order 2.4 The following paragraphs set out the to lead to the Best Practicable Environmental main aspects of national policy on waste Option. management which underpin the policies and proposals of the Plan. The Government is guided Best Practicable Environmental by the concept of sustainable development in the Option development of waste management policy. This concept is explicitly forward-looking, and 2.8 The Government have indicated that the requires decisions to be made about Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) developments with regard to the likely and the technique should be used to guide this decision- potential consequences for future generations to making process. This technique aims to give a meet their own waste management needs. strong emphasis to environmental factors at the earliest possible stage, at the same point in the 2.5 The Government published in May 2000 debate that consideration is given to the a White Paper - “The Waste Strategy 2000”. This economic costs and benefits of the different Strategy (as set out below) sets out a number key options. Guidance to applicants on the use of this waste management principles which should technique is contained in paragraph 7.6. underpin all waste management decisions. Best Practicable Environmental Option The Waste Hierarchy “The Best Practicable Environmental Option is the outcome of a systematic procedure which 2.6 The Waste Strategy sets out a establishes the option that provides the most hierarchical approach, based upon identifying benefits, or least damage, to the environment, at ways in which waste can be managed in a more acceptable cost, in both the short and long sustainable manner. term.”
Waste Hierarchy: Targets Reduction Re-use 2.9 The Waste Strategy also indicates that Recovery - targets will be introduced to assist in achieving Recycle the goal of sustainable waste management. The Composting targets for the recovery of municipal waste are Energy recovery from waste anticipated to be met through increased Disposal recycling, composting and energy recovery and have been expressly established to assist in 2.7 The aim of the Waste Hierarchy compliance with the requirements of the Landfill approach is to bring about a shift in emphasis Directive. This Directive defines municipal from the current practice of relying waste as “waste which because of its nature or predominantly on disposal to landfill to a range composition, is similar to waste from of measures including the promotion and households.” adoption of waste minimisation and re-use initiatives, recycling, composting and energy Municipal Waste Targets recovery to reduce waste for final disposal. The extent to which alternatives to landfill will be ! To recover value from 40% of municipal practicable or economically viable will depend waste by 2005
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 7 Chapter 2 - The Context for the Plan
! To recover value from 45% of municipal Best Value Recycling Targets for Cornwall waste by 2010 1998/9 6% ! To recover value from 67% of municipal 2003/4 12% waste by 2015 2005/6 18% Source: DETR 2001 Industrial and Commercial Waste Target The Proximity Principle
! By 2005 to reduce the amount of 2.12 The Waste Strategy 2000 also indicates industrial and commercial waste sent to the desirability of recovering or disposing of landfill to 85% of that landfilled in 1998. waste close to the place where it is produced in order to limit economic and environmental costs. Household Waste Targets This is referred to as the “Proximity Principle”. There are four principal reasons for promoting As a statutory standard :- it:-
! to double the recycling rate by 2003 a) it should encourage waste producers, including the community at large, to take ! to recycle or compost at least 25% of more responsibility for their waste; household waste by 2005 b) it is more likely to accord with the ! to recycle or compost at least 30% of principles of sustainable development by household waste by 2010 reducing distances over which materials have to be transported; ! to recycle or compost at least 33% of household waste by 2015 c) it may assist the local economy; Source: “Waste Strategy 2000”, HMSO d) overall costs should be lower. 2.10 To assist in achieving these targets the Government has also created statutory 2.13 The degree of relative proximity will performance standards for increasing household however depend on the precise nature and waste recycling and composting. The location of the activity and the sources, nature Government has indicated that there will be and location of waste arisings, and consequently different standards for different groups of necessitates a level of flexibility in interpretation. authorities in recognition of differing local circumstances. Landfill Tax
2.11 The targets for Cornwall are indicated 2.14 The Landfill Tax on waste disposal below, and indicate a tripling of the base year through landfill came into force on 1 October (1998/9) levels by 2005/6. It can be reasonably 1996. The objectives of this tax are to ensure that anticipated that recycling rates will be expected the landfilling of waste is properly priced to increase in line with national targets to 2005, compared with other waste management options, and thereafter to 33% by 2010. These targets and to promote a more sustainable approach to have informed the revised strategy for the waste management. The rate of Landfill Tax for management of the household waste stream putrescible waste was set at £12 per tonne in outlined later in the Plan. April 2001 and will rise by a further £1 per tonne per annum until a review in 2004. It is applied currently (2002) at a rate of £13 per tonne for
8 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 2 - The Context for the Plan putrescible waste. Currently the level of Landfill 2.19 The Structure Plan anticipates an Tax for inert waste is set to remain constant at approach based on a flexible and integrated £2.00 per tonne. waste management system. This needs to involve a progression to techniques higher up the Waste Planning Policy Guidance Note 10 Hierarchy while seeking to remain self-sufficient in terms of the management and disposal of 2.15 Detailed Government planning policy waste produced within Cornwall, other than for regarding waste planning and the content of special or hazardous waste for which specialist Waste Local Plans is contained in Planning processes are required. The Structure Plan also Policy Guidance Note 10 (PPG10). This Note states that proposals for new waste management also deals with the relationship between the facilities should not result in significant impacts planning system and the Waste Management on the environment or local amenity. A review of Licensing regime. It also indicates the increasing the Structure Plan is now underway. importance of waste management planning at the regional level and concentrates principally on the Responsibilities for management of controlled wastes. Waste in Cornwall 2.16 PPG10 reiterates that the Government wishes the key principles of BPEO, self- 2.20 The County Council as Waste Planning sufficiency, Proximity and the Waste Hierarchy Authority has responsibility for determining to form the basis of future waste planning policy waste-related planning applications and the and waste management decision making. preparation of a Waste Local Plan. As Waste Disposal Authority, the County Council is Regional Planning Guidance responsible for the management and disposal of collected household and commercial waste and 2.17 Regional Planning Guidance for the the provision of Civic Amenity sites. The South West is contained in Regional Planning provision of such sites is undertaken through the Guidance Note 10 (RPG10 dated September awarding of commercial contracts. Currently the 2001). This guidance reflects that contained in principal contract for disposal of collected PPG10 regarding the content of Waste Local wastes is with County Environmental Services Plans and encourages the co-ordination of Ltd (CES). This Company is wholly-owned by mineral extraction with waste disposal. the County Council.
Cornwall Structure Plan 2.21 The Environment Agency has responsibility for regulating all former, current, 2.18 The 1997 Replacement Structure Plan for and future waste management facilities. The Cornwall, which looks to the year 2011, provides Agency is therefore a key consultee both during the strategic framework for waste-related the consultation on this Plan, and during the development in the County. The policies consideration of applications for waste contained in the Structure Plan provide the key management facilities. The Agency also has a factors to be taken into account in determining key role through its responsibilities for the waste management planning applications. National Waste Survey and Regional Strategic However, they are not site specific and do not Waste Management Assessments, the latter being identify potential areas for future waste an important reference document in drawing up development. Structure Plan policies for waste the Waste Local Plan. management are included in Appendix 1 of this Plan. 2.22 The District Councils as Waste Collection Authorities have the duty to collect household and commercial waste. Both the County and
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 9 Chapter 2 - The Context for the Plan
District Councils have responsibilities for Documents referred to in this recycling waste, with the Districts having Chapter: responsibility for preparing Recycling Plans. In October 1999 the six district councils and the Framework Directive on Waste (91/156/EC) County Council published an Integrated Waste Management and Recycling Plan. It is Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control anticipated that this will be replaced by a (IPPC) Directive (96/61/EC) Municipal Waste Management Strategy which will be jointly prepared by the Districts and the Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC) County Council. This document will set out the strategic framework for the management of Landfill Directive (99/31/EC) household waste which will be jointly developed by the County and District Councils. Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) 2.23 The private sector also plays a substantial role in the collection, recycling and Town and Country Planning Act 1990 disposal of certain waste types such as construction and demolition waste, the scrapping Environment Act 1995 of cars, paper recycling, processing of sewage sludge etc. The Community sector also plays an Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 important role in the recovery and recycling of waste. Packaging Regulations 1997
UK Waste Strategy 2000, (May 2000) (produced by the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions)
Planning Policy Guidance Note 10 (PPG10): Planning and Waste Management (Sept 1999)
Planning Policy Guidance Note 23 (PPG23): Planning and Pollution Control (1994). (Consultation paper on proposed revision to PPG23 issued July 2002)
Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10) (Sept 2001)
Cornwall Structure Plan Deposit Draft, October 2002
10 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs Chapter 3
Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 11 Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
Introduction composting, energy from waste or landfilling requires careful process management because of 3.1 Currently about 7.28 million tonnes (mt) the potential risk of the release of greenhouse of waste is produced every year in Cornwall of gases, liquid by-products and therefore requires which 82% (6mt) arises from agriculture. Most careful consideration at the planning application of the agricultural waste consists of manure, stage. slurry, silage effluent and crop residues and in the main this is applied to fields as a soil 3.5 For the purposes of predicting future conditioner and fertiliser and can more readily be arisings and trends in management and disposal considered as an agricultural by-product rather it is useful to consider the putrescible waste than waste. This waste stream is currently stream in two categories: - excluded from the definition of controlled wastes and hence is not considered within the scope of i) collected domestic waste: including this Plan, although future reviews of the Plan household, co-mingled collected trade may incorporate this waste stream if appropriate. waste, street cleaning and civic amenity A further 22mt of mining and quarrying waste is waste i.e. that waste collected by District produced annually; further consideration of this Councils as Waste Collection Authorities type of waste is dealt with separately in the and for which the County Council is Cornwall Minerals Local Plan 1997. responsible for disposal as Waste Disposal Authority, and, 3.2 This Plan is therefore primarily concerned with the waste produced every year ii) other commercial and industrial wastes from household, commercial and industrial produced by economic activity and activities undertaken in Cornwall. disposed of by the private sector to licensed sites. 3.3 It is necessary to examine waste arisings and to assess future trends by reference to a Collected Domestic Wastes number of broad categories of waste and the different composition of the waste streams and 3.6 Arisings of collected domestic waste existing management and disposal routes. amounted to 263,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) for the financial year 1999/2000. Future arisings of Household, collected domestic waste will be affected by a number of factors. These include:- Commercial and Industrial Wastes ! housing provision in the Structure Plan of 45,500 new houses to be built between 1991 and 2011; 3.4 Household waste and mixed trade waste, as collected by the District Councils, Civic ! a continuing growth in waste output per Amenity and street cleaning residues are termed household, (although this trend may slow putrescible and, together with a significant down as the Packaging Regulations 1997 element of commercial and industrial wastes gradually impact later in the Plan (both putrescible and inert), are currently period); disposed of at two landfill sites operated by CES Ltd although a third site at Lean Quarry also has ! the success of household composting and planning permission (granted in March 2002) other changes in waste collection and although operations had not commenced by April domestic recycling. 2002 (see map 3.1). The management and treatment of these wastes, whether by recycling,
12 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 13 Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
3.7 Taking these factors together the future Services Ltd recycling facility at Roodscroft and domestic waste stream profile can be projected the Viridor MRF at Lean Quarry. Smaller (Fig. 3.1A). This indicates a steady rise to elements are landfilled at private facilities in the 290,000 tonnes per annum around the year 2004. County. It is anticipated that this gradual increase should level off as the initiatives to meet Government 3.9 The best estimate for the current size in waste minimisation targets are gradually the solid element of this waste stream is 275,000 implemented. It is assumed that growth in this tonnes per annum. This is comprised of 125,000 waste stream will run at around 3% per annum tonnes of such wastes which are recycled and until 2004, thereafter running at 2% per annum 150,000 tonnes which are disposed to landfill. until 2009 and 1% through to 2011. Clearly the An increase in the gross tonnage of arisings per actual outcome in the medium and long term annum can be expected, at least in line with the phases of the Plan period will be less certain but growth in numbers of households in Cornwall, this forecast is useful in examining the although economic growth is also a factor implications for waste management and disposal affecting this waste stream. It is also recognised practice. that significant quantities of this waste stream produced in Plymouth are being treated/disposed Commercial and of in south east Cornwall, although precise figures are not known. For further details about Industrial Waste this waste stream please see Appendix 9.
3.8 The commercial and industrial waste stream, comprising putrescible and inert wastes mainly produced from commercial and industrial premises, currently goes to landfill alongside the domestic waste stream, at the two CES sites at Connon Bridge, Liskeard, and United Mines, Redruth. An increasing proportion is recycled through the operation of Materials Recycling Facilities (MRF) by the Cornwall Paper Company Ltd., and Roodscroft Environmental
14 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 15 Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
16 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
Landfill Capacity Construction and Requirements for Demolition Waste Household, Commercial and 3.11 Construction and demolition waste Industrial Waste comprises, in varying degrees, quantities of building materials, asphalt and road planings, topsoil and subsoil, and arises from building 3.10 Household, commercial and industrial schemes, road construction and maintenance waste currently produced in Cornwall is programmes and demolition sites. These wastes predominantly disposed of at the two licensed are sometimes referred to as “inert” wastes, but landfill sites outlined above. A third site, Lean this can sometimes be misleading as they may Quarry, also has planning permission (granted in include small elements of degradable waste such March 2002) although operations here had not as wood, paper and metals. Such waste materials yet commenced by April 2002. The United are normally collected and transported by private Mines facility is time limited by planning contractors. condition and must be completed by 31 October 2010. This fixed life-span for the site requires 3.12 Precise quantities of construction and that, irrespective of infilling rates and the demolition waste are extremely difficult to introduction of EfW technology, new estimate with any degree of certainty (see replacement landfill capacity will be required to Appendix 9). The Environment Agency has serve the west and central parts of the County by estimated that in 1999 some 2.5 million tonnes the end of the Plan period. Connon Bridge has of recycled aggregate and soil were produced in sufficient capacity on the basis of current inputs the South West Region, accounting for and original estimates of the total voidspace to approximately 9% of the national total. However, last until approximately 2006. The capacity at from the number of inert waste sites in Cornwall Connon Bridge is currently the subject of (see Appendix 4) and the number of inert waste discussion between the Planning Authority, the exemptions that have been registered by the operator (CES Ltd) and the Environment Environment Agency, it is reasonable to assume Agency. The planning permission for the that such wastes form a significant proportion of extension at United Mines does allow for the total waste arisings in Cornwall. disposal of ash (excluding special wastes) and residual wastes. Disposal of such wastes here 3.13 Production of construction and would assist in meeting the planning requirement demolition wastes are influenced by levels of for the completion of the site and would also economic activity and can be significantly protect the remaining void space at Connon affected by a particularly large “one-off” Bridge. In addition policy L6 anticipates construction scheme, such as re-development provision being made for the recycling of bottom schemes or a new by-pass. However, since the ash from any EfW plant for secondary imposition of the Landfill Tax on 1 October 1996 aggregating purposes. The anticipated life of at a rate of £2 per tonne upon inert waste, there infilling at Lean Quarry is 27 years. Therefore, it has been evidence of a significant decline in the is not anticipated that replacement landfill quantities being deposited at sites licensed to capacity will be required for the east of the receive such waste. It is thought that these waste County within the Plan period. arisings are either being re-used within the boundaries of developments or at sites exempt from the waste licensing regime.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 17 Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
3.14 National policy, as stated in Minerals in figures for annual arisings of special waste. Planning Guidance Note 6, is seeking to The Contaminated Land Regulations (1999) will encourage an increase in the rate of recycling lead to the identification, classification and and re-use of construction and demolition waste remediation of contaminated sites. It is to produce secondary aggregates for use as anticipated that remediation works will have the hardcore/fill material and for use within existing potential to generate significant levels of special developments. This policy, in conjunction with waste during and beyond the Plan period. By the imposition of the Landfill Tax, has been national standards, the quantities of special and reflected in a number of recent initiatives for hazardous waste arisings in Cornwall are recycling facilities in Cornwall, such as the relatively small. However, following Materials Recycling Facility operated by the amendments to the definitions by Government, Viridor at Lean Quarry and the crushing and these waste arisings now include a much wider screening facility at Parc-an-Chy, Scorrier. The range of materials. In 1998/99 there arose some network of existing landfills and transfer 14,000 tonnes of such wastes in Cornwall. facilities for these wastes are indicated on Maps 3.2 and 3.3. Fig. 3.2 Special/Hazardous Waste Arisings in Cornwall Special/Hazardous Year Tonnage Waste 1991/92 1210 tonnes 1992/93 750 tonnes 3.15 Special wastes can be defined as 1993/94 784 tonnes controlled wastes which need extra care and 1994/95 883 tonnes control because they consist of, or contain, any 1995/96 2270 tonnes specified substance which can make the waste dangerous to life or the environment. Such Source: Environment Agency, 1997 wastes include for example, asbestos, oil solvents, acids, chemical and pharmaceutical 3.17 Detailed information regarding the wastes. quantities of special waste being produced within Cornwall can be determined from the 3.16 Currently there are extremely limited “consignment returns” required by the facilities in Cornwall for the disposal of such Environment Agency under the Control of wastes and consequently it is estimated that over Pollution Act 1974, the Environmental Protection 90% of total arisings are “exported” out of the Act 1990 and the Special Waste Regulations County for recycling, treatment or destruction 1996. such as the special waste incinerator at Fawley near Southampton. The potential ending of the Clinical Waste practice of co-disposal of hazardous and non- hazardous wastes at existing landfill sites will increase this level of “export” out of Cornwall. 3.18 Clinical waste is generated from a wide The small amounts of special/hazardous waste range of sources including medical, nursing, disposed of in Cornwall is almost exclusively of dental, veterinary, and pharmaceutical practices. asbestos waste which is disposed of at United Such waste may consist of human or animal Downs and Connon Bridge landfill sites, both of tissue, blood or other body fluids, excretions, which are licensed to receive such waste. “One- drugs or other pharmaceutical products, swabs or off” incidents, such as the discovery of dressings, syringes, needles or other sharp contaminated material in 1995 during the instruments which, unless rendered safe, may be residential development of a former timber yard hazardous to any person coming into contact in Grampound Road, can give rise to distortions with it.
18 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
3.19 Clinical waste arisings, as with many Sewage and Waste other waste streams, are difficult to quantify Water precisely. Fig. 3.3 below gives a broad indication of clinical waste arisings for incineration in Cornwall. Clinical waste is predominantly sent to 3.21 On average each person produces about incinerators. Until 1st October 1995 the 150 litres of effluent per day from all domestic incineration of such wastes used to be carried out activities. In Cornwall, most of this waste is by Health Trusts at Treliske Hospital in Truro processed by South West Water (SWW). and at St. Lawrence’s Hospital in Bodmin, but Although quantities of sewage discharges are not these were closed because of the introduction of reducing, the volume of untreated sewage is new emission control legislation. Elements of reducing as improved waste water treatment this waste stream are now incinerated at a plants are commissioned. Quantities of sewage specialist unit near Liskeard, although most being disposed of direct to the sea have fallen clinical waste is taken out of Cornwall for since 1991 as part of the implementation of incineration. Some clinical waste arisings from SWW’s ‘Clean Sweep’ Programme. However, a Devonport Dockyard are incinerated under substantial number of properties in Cornwall are contract at the Liskeard facility. not connected to mains sewerage and are normally served by a septic tank, private Fig 3.3 Clinical Waste Arisings for treatment or package plant, or cess pit. A small Incineration number of private properties discharge direct to estuarine waters. However, under the Urban Source Tonnage Waste Water Directive the direct discharge to Hospitals 917 tonnes estuarine waters will cease by 2005. Doctors and Dental Surgeries 33 tonnes Nursing Homes 120 tonnes 3.22 During the Plan period South West Water Veterinary Practices 163 tonnes will complete a number of Waste Water Treatment (WWTW) schemes including Source: CCC Waste Disposal Plan. 1989. Camborne/Redruth, Newquay and Falmouth. A new periodic industry investment programme to 3.20 There are no more up to date figures than 2005 has recently been agreed by SWW, OFWAT those indicated above, although the Environment (Office of Water Regulation) and the Agency is collecting information on arisings of Environment Agency as outlined in Chapter 4. this waste stream which should be available The programme for proposed new waste water during the Plan period. The trends are currently treatment works is indicated in Appendix 5. difficult to extrapolate but, from reported experience at the national level and in other Sewage Sludge counties, it is thought that the cost of clinical waste incineration is increasing owing to the 3.23 Specific figures are current and future need to develop new incinerators. Clinical waste quantities of sewage sludge arisings are more producers can be expected to reduce the volume readily available from South West Water (see of waste requiring incineration through Fig. 3.4). The County Council still has little or improvement of waste segregation rates. no information from the commercial section with regard to arisings of septic tank waste.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 19 Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
Fig 3.4 Sewage Sludge Arisings (in thousands stream also includes scrap metal from domestic, of tonnes, dried solids)1 commercial and industrial sources.
Year Total Sludge Arisings 3.26 An average of about 75% of the weight 1996 10,206 of each end-of-life vehicle is presently recycled, 2001 18,489 mostly through the re-use of parts and metals for 2011 21,200 recycling. Recycling other materials, such as plastic, glass and rubber is more difficult for Source: South West Water 2001 technical and economic reasons and currently these end up mostly as landfill. The proposed EC 3.24 The significant increase in arisings Directive on end-of-life vehicles seeks to set re- predicted by South West Water are almost use, recycling and recovery targets for the waste entirely due to the implementation of schemes produced from end-of-life vehicles and also under the Bathing Water Quality Regulations and requires manufacturers to design and the Urban Waste Water Directive under the manufacture their vehicles with principles of various water industry investment programmes. recycling and re-use in mind. It is likely that the The practice of dumping sewage sludge at sea Directive will also require that vehicles are ceased in 1998. The predictions include, for drained and that hazardous materials such as example, the assumption that Camborne, petrol, diesel, engine oil and brake fluids or Newquay and Falmouth Waste Water Treatment components are removed before treatment. Works (WWTW) became operational. These sludges are predominantly applied to land for 3.27 Smaller quantities of scrap metals are agricultural improvement which is currently collected at Civic Amenity sites and by District considered the Best Practicable Environmental Councils. The majority of this waste stream is Option (BPEO) for this waste stream. Other transported and recycled in furnaces in disposal routes for this waste stream include Merseyside and the Midlands, however a incineration and other forms of energy recovery proportion is currently exported from Truro by or landfill. The future disposal routes for this sea to facilities elsewhere in the UK and abroad. waste stream will depend on factors including confidence in disposing of sludges for use in Agricultural Waste agriculture, and other developments such as new constraints on landfilling sludge. 3.28 The bulk of agricultural waste produced Scrap Metals on the 7,000 farms in Cornwall consists of organic matter such as manure, slurry, silage effluent and crop residues. The majority of slurry 3.25 Scrap yards in Cornwall (which from a and manure wastes are normally disposed of waste management perspective should be more through application to fields as a soil conditioner correctly referred to as metal recycling facilities), or fertiliser and should be more correctly currently handle approximately 70,000 tonnes of regarded as an agricultural by-product. ferrous and non ferrous metals per annum. The majority of this waste stream is comprised of 3.29 It is currently estimated by the vehicles which have reached the end of their Department of Environment, Food and Rural lives (so called end-of-life vehicles), either Affairs that, given the type of farming because of their age or because they have been undertaken in Cornwall, approximately 4.8 damaged in an accident. However this waste million litres of slurry of agricultural waste is
1 In practice South West Water transport a greater weight of sewage sludge, as the sludge is usually considered 25% solids, 75% water once 'caked' 20 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs produced per annum. This is no more than a mine to that of Wheal Jane, it is not expected to rough estimate, however, and must be treated give rise to environmental impact. Any treatment with a degree of care. and subsequent production of sludges is therefore considered to be unlikely. If mining 3.30 Farms also produce a range of wastes of does recommence discharges will be controlled both an organic and inorganic nature, including by the Environment Agency. for example tyres, plastic bags and sheeting, scrap metal and machinery, and pesticides. Harbour and Port Currently the majority of these wastes falls outside legal definitions of controlled waste. Waste Within the Plan period it is expected that regulations will be tabled to bring these wastes 3.34 Marine activities of both a commercial under regulatory controls. and leisure-related nature give rise to relatively small but significant quantities of waste arisings Animal Waste which require correct handling and disposal. Wastes range from what is essentially household waste arising from leisure and commercial craft, 3.31 During the 1990s this particular waste to harbour dredgings and oily wastes, and stream drew much public attention because of general flotsam and jetsam collected from the BSE crisis and the Over Thirty Month beaches and the water. With tighter controls Scheme (OTM) for culling cattle. Rates of BSE being introduced on the discharge of these infection in Cornwall have fallen substantially wastes, it is reasonable to assume arisings from but will still require a proper disposal route for these sources will increase. the foreseeable future. Carcasses of cattle identified with BSE from both Cornwall and 3.35 In addition to the above is waste arising Devon are currently incinerated at a facility at from marine craft building and maintenance Liskeard. facilities, such as Falmouth Docks. This waste can potentially include a whole range of special 3.32 The OTM scheme is also giving rise to waste-type arisings such as asbestos, residues significant arisings of waste material requiring from grit blasting, TBT - based anti-fouling etc. treatment or disposal, or both. Currently all No figures are available for the quantities of this arisings of cattle culled under this scheme in type of waste arisings, but it is recognised that Cornwall are being sent for rendering to a plant some spoil dredgings may be used in land in Exeter before final disposal via approved reclamation initiatives. Oil and fuel waste techniques. arisings from marine sources are a significant waste stream in Cornwall and in particular at Mine Water Waste Falmouth. Oily water wastes from Devonport Dockyard are handled by Sealand Services at Saltash but are treated outside the County. 3.33 The Environment Agency currently utilises the Wheal Jane tailings facility for the 3.36 Most port and harbour authorities are disposal of approximately 9,000 tonnes per now preparing “Port Waste Management Plans” annum of “flocculent sludges” arising from the for the reception and disposal of waste from all treatment of the heavily contaminated Wheal sea going vessels in accordance with emerging Jane mine waters. As yet, it is not known how Marine Safety Agency guidelines. long treatment will be necessary. Should mining not recommence at South Crofty, mine waters will continue to be discharged to the Red River. Due to the significantly different geology of the
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 21 Chapter 3 - Waste Arisings in Cornwall: An Assessment of Future Needs
22 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal Chapter 4
The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 23 Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
Introduction 1) encourage the minimisation of waste throughout all stages of the planning 4.1 Safe, effective and efficient management process. of waste arisings in Cornwall is vital for the long term safeguarding of the environment, the 2) With the exception of specialised wastes County’s economic well being, and the (requiring treatment and disposal outside protection of the amenity of local residents. Cornwall), to ensure the provision of an adequate range of waste management 4.2 The County Council supports the and disposal facilities to meet identified approach set out in the Government White Paper needs within Cornwall. “The Waste Strategy” 2000 of seeking to deal with waste issues within the context of wider 3) To encourage the development of sustainable development goals through waste recycling and composting facilities. minimisation and the reduction of quantities of waste requiring landfill by re-use, recycling and 4) To provide for the recovery of Energy energy recovery. Having regard to the national from Waste (EfW). policy context and the strategic approach set out in the Cornwall Structure Plan the proposed 5) To ensure that adequate landfill capacity overall vision for this Plan is set out below: is developed and maintained to meet the needs of the County for the disposal of 4.3 “To reduce the quantities of all waste waste that cannot be re-used, recycled, or arisings in Cornwall requiring disposal to the treated in an EfW plant. lowest practicable level, through greater minimisation and re-use. Where minimisation or 6) To have regard to appropriate transport re-use is not viable or practicable the next goals arrangements including more sustainable should be to compost or recycle materials. modes, such as rail and shipping, and the Further value in terms of energy and heat should need to safeguard the environment and then be recovered through an energy from waste local amenity. plant with bottom ashes being recycled for aggregating purposes. Landfill will remain the 4.5 It must be noted, however, that is beyond principal waste management technique until the scope of this Plan to prescribe which waste alternative techniques can be provided and in the management techniques should be utilised or longer term for residues from which value cannot which waste sites should be developed for waste. be recovered. In all cases waste management In practice there will be a variety of waste techniques will be sought which, having had management options and locations capable of regard to economic and environmental meeting the needs of the County. The Plan sustainability, are aimed at minimising impact on therefore seeks to influence how waste should be environmental quality and local amenity and are managed. The policies in the Plan are designed not harmful to human health”. to meet this objective. The County Council is not, however, in a position to indicate precise Key Objectives land-use allocations in this Plan other than for the three Areas of Search. Whilst specific site identification would be ultimately desirable, 4.4 Having regard to the proposed vision of there are clear practical difficulties in identifying the Plan and the analysis of waste arisings in potential sites for individual waste management Chapter 3, the following key objectives can be facilities. The County Council does not have the identified. level of environmental information available to justify the allocation of sites.
24 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
4.6 It should also be noted that waste 4.7 Following analysis of waste streams, and minimisation programmes, including education having regard to the overall vision of the Plan, and awareness campaigns, do not directly raise specific objectives for individual waste streams land use planning implications and therefore are are set out below. not dealt with in significant detail in this Plan. However, waste minimisation is at the heart of Household, the County Council’s integrated waste management strategy. This will be dealt with in Commercial and the forthcoming Municipal Waste Management Industrial Wastes Strategy being prepared by the County Council in partnership with the District Councils. Initiatives will include education and awareness 4.8 The implementation of the EC Landfill campaigns and the encouragement of home Directive and application of the Waste Strategy composting. 2000 unavoidably necessitates a fundamental change in the management of the arisings of Policy S1 household, commercial and industrial waste streams in Cornwall. The level of dependency on Waste management development will be landfill in the County (88% in 2001/2) cannot be considered against the primary aims of the maintained. The household, commercial and Plan which are:- industrial waste streams are considered in parallel in this plan because of their similar a) to seek the minimisation of waste nature and common disposal routes. arisings requiring final disposal, and to increase the re-use, recycling and 4.9 The findings of a Best Practicable recovery of both materials and energy; Environmental Option (BPEO) assessment undertaken by AEA Environmental Ltd on behalf b) to seek the waste management of the County Council sought to identify the technique which provides the most most suitable balance of household waste benefits with the least damage to the management techniques in Cornwall, given environment at acceptable cost in the existing and predicted circumstances. The study long term as well as in the short term assessed existing waste flows, and established a (the Best Practicable Environmental wide range of commercially proven waste Option); management technologies. The methodology adopted required the determination of an c) to ensure the provision of suitably- inventory of emissions to the environment and located waste management facilities, the compilation of capital and operating costs for with appropriate transport links, and the technologies involved for each option in as part of providing the overall order to determine costs on a pound (£) per tonne capacity to deal with waste arisings in basis for comparison purposes. The results of Cornwall during the Plan period; this BPEO study were confirmed in 2001 after AEA Ltd. undertook a further study on behalf of d) to ensure that such facilities will not the County Council using the Environment cause environmental or amenity Agency’s Best Environment Option analytical impacts which cannot be mitigated to tool known as “WISARD”. The assessment of an acceptable level. applications for household waste management facilities will need to be made in accordance with the principles of the BPEO (see paragraphs 2.8 and 7.6) to address whatever combination of recycling, composting and EfW techniques is
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 25 Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
proposed for managing this waste stream at the 4.11 Such a strategic approach meets the time that applications for specific facilities are requirements of the EC Landfill Directive during made. The assessment of planning applications the Plan period to 2011, but this cannot be for the management of commercial and industrial achieved by the adoption of one technique waste will similarly have to be demonstrated as operated in isolation. With regard to recycling, the BPEO for that waste stream by applicants. based upon current factors, it is anticipated that Applicants should also demonstrate compatibility the recycling targets outlined in Waste Strategy of their proposal with both policy and BPEO 2000 and confirmed through the Best Value work undertaken by the South West Regional regime will be met. Indeed it is considered that Assembly. given current economic and geographic factors a rate of approximately 17- 18% recycling is 4.10 The findings of the BPEO study achievable in Cornwall, through the development informed the basis of the strategy for the of further Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs), management of household, commercial and an optimising of the Civic Amenity Site network industrial waste in Cornwall. The approach and the development of an increased number of indicated in the BPEO study was to move to a recycling banks. To achieve the higher rates system of integrated waste management of these required by the Government targets of 18% by wastes based upon increasing the rates of 2005/6, and the anticipated 33% by 2010, will recovery through both kerbside collection and an require the wider adoption of intensive kerbside expanded network of ‘bring’ recycling facilities, collection practices and centralised composting and centralised composting centres and the of suitable biodegradable wastes throughout development of a single centrally located Energy Cornwall. The Municipal Waste Management from Waste (EfW) plant together with waste Strategy for Cornwall will set out how the transfer stations. Residual waste (i.e. non- County and District Councils, in partnership with recyclable or non-recoverable) will be disposed key stakeholders, will achieve these targets. to landfill. The study concluded that such an Targets will be very challenging to meet because integrated system would offer significant of the distance from the principal material environmental benefits compared to a range of processing plants and the consequent economic options investigated, and provides an and environmental costs of transporting materials economically viable solution for Cornwall. The to these recycling plants. Currently the principal study also concluded that the process of adopting material reprocessing plants are large industrial such a strategy required implementation as soon processes outside the County such as the as possible. The first stage of delivering this Aylesford Paper Mill in Kent, glass processing in integrated waste management strategy will be Yorkshire and the British Steelworks in South concentrated on initiatives to minimise waste Wales. The County Council has applied for production and to increase the levels of recycling Private Finance Initiative credits to attempt to and composting. The second stage of the attract private sector interest in a long term delivery of this strategy will entail the continued integrated waste management contract in increase in the minimisation, recycling and Cornwall. It is also considered that during the composting sectors accompanied by the adoption Plan period, initiatives such as the “ReMaDe” of an as yet undetermined EfW technology. EfW initiative may help to further encourage levels of will further assist the strategy to reduce the recycling. Consideration should be given to amount of waste going to landfill and the level of facilitating industrial developments in Cornwall resource recovery from the waste stream. The which seek to utilise recyclable material such as strategy to move to a system of integrated waste glass, paper and plastic thereby reducing the management in Cornwall is set out in need to transport such materials out of the diagrammatic manner in Figure 4.1A. County for processing.
26 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
The ReMaDe Initiative Kernow 4.12 The strategy underlying the Plan also This project which is being run by ReZolve anticipates the adoption of a single centrally (formally the Cornwall’s Waste Working Group) located EfW plant to handle a maximum of 60% is seeking to tackle the single biggest obstacle to of the 1998/9 total of the municipal solid waste increasing recycling rates in Cornwall, which is stream as well as a proportion of the commercial the lack of local markets for recycled materials. and industrial waste stream. Careful scaling of The essential aim of the Project is to seek the capacity of such a plant will be required in alternative markets for recyclable and recycled order to enable the minimisation of waste and materials. the higher rates of recycling and composting to
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 27 Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
be achieved. This option was found to offer industrial wastes. The rest of this stream is several global environmental and cost expected to continue to be sent to landfill sites. advantages, as opposed to more than one EfW An element of this waste stream which arises in plant and particularly when compared to Plymouth will continue to be recycled/disposed landfilling over the medium and long terms. of at waste facilities in South East Cornwall and Waste combustion does emit pollutants to the this should continue through the provision of environment, but so indeed do all waste adequate facilities. management techniques including recycling and composting. AEA Environmental Ltd concluded 4.14 Within the framework set by the Key that EfW represented the best option in terms of Objectives, the broad range of land use all pollutants emitted to the environment. objectives for the management of the household, Selection of the appropriate EfW technology will commercial and industrial waste streams are as not be taken immediately. Initial efforts will follows:- concentrate on achieving higher rates of minimisation, recycling and composting during a) To encourage recycling through the Stage 1 of the delivery of the Municipal Waste development of MRFs, the provision of Management Strategy. The relative success of additional Civic Amenity sites and other Stage 1 could then determine, in part, the recycling/recovery facilities. delivery of Stage 2 of the strategy in Cornwall. It was also concluded that until facilities for b) To encourage the development of expanding recycling, composting and energy centralised composting schemes. recovery are brought on stream, landfill will remain the principal method of waste c) To encourage the development of an management in Cornwall for household, Energy from Waste facility. commercial and industrial wastes. Following commissioning of an EfW plant, landfill capacity d) To ensure the maintenance of adequate will still be required for the disposal of non- landfill capacity to meet the residual recoverable wastes and residues amounting to waste disposal needs of both west and some 23% of total arisings. These wastes and east Cornwall. residues could be reduced further still if by products from EfW are recovered thereby Construction and enabling further increases in materials recycling. Demolition Waste 4.13 Most commercial and industrial wastes are currently sent to the two existing landfills 4.15 The objective is to seek to ensure the and a much smaller proportion is recycled recycling of as much construction and through the activities of the private waste demolition waste as possible and therefore management sector. Recycling will play an reduce the quantities of these materials going to increasingly significant management role for this landfill. This should be achieved, wherever waste stream as the efforts of Landfill Tax and possible, by locating temporary recycling plants the Packaging Regulations further impact on this at the point of waste arising. Where this is not sector. This may require the development of new possible new facilities should be developed at or extended Materials Recycling Facilities in existing inert waste sites or in operational Cornwall. It is anticipated that an element of quarries where the site is in reasonable proximity capacity of an EfW plant will be available for to both the principal route network and the elements of commercial waste which cannot be principal settlements. Careful consideration will recycled. Indeed, the AEA Study indicated that be given to any proposals for facilities to deal up to 10 % of the total capacity of an EfW plant with these wastes. should be available to allow for commercial and
28 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
Special/Hazardous Other Wastes Waste 4.20 The objective is to seek to ensure an adequate network of waste management facilities 4.16 The objective is to continue to send with sufficient capacity for individual waste special and hazardous wastes to specialist streams in environmentally acceptable locations. disposal facilities where such facilities do not exist in Cornwall. Careful consideration will be given to any proposals for facilities to deal with such wastes in Cornwall.
Clinical Waste/Veterinary Waste
4.17 The objective to segregate carefully the individual components of this waste stream is the key to achieving the most sustainable management method. Incineration is the preferred route of treatment for those wastes which could pose a risk to human health. New technologies such as, for example, microwave treatment, may prove to be a viable treatment method later in the Plan period.
Sewage and Waste Water
4.18 The objective is to support the continued extension and improvement of the County’s sewerage and waste water treatment facilities. The County Council will seek to work closely with both South West Water and the Environment Agency to achieve the implementation of the industry’s investment programme to 2005.
Sewage Sludge
4.19 The objective is to support the beneficial use of sewage sludge whether by composting or recovering energy from it, subject to appropriate environmental safeguards.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 29 Chapter 4 - The Overall Strategy for Waste Management and Disposal
30 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities Chapter 5
The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 31 Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
Introduction The Need for New Facilities 5.1 The County Council has a key role to play as Waste Planning Authority in enabling appropriate waste management facilities in 5.4 During the life of the Plan, as indicated suitable locations, and conversely seeking to in Chapters 3 and 4, new facilities will be needed prevent the development of facilities in for a range of waste management activities, both inappropriate locations where they would be to meet existing requirements and to provide unacceptable for land use planning reasons. This capacity and new treatment methods for the involves detailed consideration both of the nature expected increased levels of waste arisings of a development and the appropriateness of its produced in Cornwall. It is now possible to be location. more definitive in indicating strategies for dealing with specific waste streams than was the 5.2 In Cornwall there exist inherent case in previous versions of the Plan. In difficulties for the efficient collection, transfer, particular, a clearer strategy for dealing with the management and disposal of waste because of its domestic, commercial and industrial waste geographical area, rural nature and dispersed streams has emerged following consideration of population. These factors can be compounded by the findings of the AEA Environment Ltd study. the potentially conflicting demands of seeking to manage waste arisings in close proximity to the Locational Criteria for point of origin while providing facilities of sufficient scale to achieve environmental and New Waste economic viability. These will remain as Management Facilities management issues during the Plan period and beyond. It is essential therefore to encourage and facilitate the efficient handling, transfer, 5.5 The key locational criteria for new waste treatment and disposal of waste arisings in an management facilities in Cornwall are to :- integrated and sympathetic manner in order to minimise costs and adverse environmental a) provide adequate safeguards for the impacts. natural and historic environment and local amenity and surrounding land uses; Existing Facilities b) minimise the costs and environmental impact of the transport of waste, at the 5.3 The existing network of waste same time as promoting accessibility of management facilities in Cornwall reflects the facilities; diverse nature of waste arisings. The network ranges, for example, from small textile recycling c) take advantage of extending and banks in supermarket car parks through Civic developing facilities, or providing new Amenity sites, Waste Water Treatment Works to facilities adjacent to existing facilities; the two large putrescible waste landfills, United Mines and Connon Bridge. The existing pattern d) realise opportunities for improving the of provision of these sites broadly reflects the environment through, for example, the principal sources and densities of the origins of restoration and rehabilitation of derelict the waste arisings and their very existence will or despoiled land or former mineral be an important factor in the consideration of the workings; provision and location of new facilities that will be required during the Plan period to 2011. e) realise opportunities for the integration of facilities with other developments
32 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
which can maximise the benefits of waste management facilities would therefore recovery of materials or energy. need to demonstrate reasonable proximity to this network as well as the provision of adequate Safeguarding the Environment and accessibility to the network. Reasonable Local Amenity proximity as a concept will be interpreted by examining the nature of the existing or proposed 5.6 Waste must be managed and disposed of access route from the site to the Primary Route in locations and facilities which least Network. If access from the site to the Primary compromise the quality of Cornwall’s Route Network is favourable, distance from this environment. With all waste facilities, from network will be less of a constraining factor than recycling centres, to energy from waste plants if access is poor. and to landfills, there is an inherent risk of pollution and impact on the environment. 5.9 The Primary Route Network is indicated Therefore, regard will be given to the design and on the Proposals Map and includes the following techniques of mitigation to safeguard the routes:- environment and minimise the potential impact of waste management facilities. Similarly it is Primary Route Network essential that the enjoyment of local amenity and access to it, particularly by residents but also by A30 County Boundary to Penzance other users and visitors of land and facilities in a A38 County Boundary to Bodmin locality is protected from potential adverse A39 County Boundary to Indian Queens effects which could arise from waste A39 Carland Cross (A30) to Falmouth management activities. Further consideration is A388 Launceston (A30) to Saltash (A38) given to these factors in Chapters 6 and 7. A390 Dobwalls to Chiverton Cross (A30) via St Austell Transport and Accessibility A391 Innis Downs (A30) to St Austell A392 Indian Queens (A39) to Newquay 5.7 The transport of waste is one of the most A394 Treliever (A39) to Newtown immediate impacts of waste management activity Roundabout (A30) in Cornwall. Currently all waste is transported by A395 Kennards House (A30) to Davidstow road. The County Council will seek to minimise (A39). the environmental impact of the transport of waste wherever practicable (in seeking to apply the Proximity Principle). There are two main Rail Transport ways to achieve this goal: firstly, by reducing the distance that waste has to be transported, and 5.10 The potential for the transport of waste secondly by seeking the movement of waste by by rail offers a significant opportunity for modes of transport other than by road. reducing the quantities of waste currently transported almost exclusively by road with the Road Transport attendant environmental and amenity impacts. However, rail transport is only likely to be a 5.8 Where road transport is unavoidable, viable option for the transport of wastes in given the narrowness of many roads in Cornwall bulk/high volumes. This could include the it is important that new major facilities that are movement of household and potentially, wholly or primarily road served should be in commercial and industrial wastes within reasonable proximity to the Primary Route Cornwall and could offer significant financial Network. Direct access onto the Primary Route advantages for the transport of recyclable Network should however be avoided, see materials out of Cornwall. Preliminary work has Structure Plan Policy TRAN 7. Road served demonstrated the economic and practical
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 33 Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
feasibility of transferring waste by rail in 5.13 A number of currently active and Cornwall to a single Energy from Waste plant dormant mineral workings in Cornwall lie in located in the centre of the County. This would reasonable proximity to the Primary Route require the development of improved rail Network and may have potential for infilling infrastructure provision including signalling, with waste at a future date, subject to the transfer facilities and investment in specialist satisfaction of both planning and pollution rolling stock. control requirements. The sheer number of former mineral workings in Cornwall however Extensions at Existing Sites would make it impracticable to identify such sites as potential areas of search for the purposes 5.11 Extensions or the intensification of of this Plan. activities at existing sites can be preferable to the development of an entirely new facility in 5.14 While the St. Austell China Clay Area another location as it may enable integration of contains a number of substantial pits, with new facilities with existing facilities. It may also potentially enormous void-space capacity, this be possible to utilise existing infrastructure area is unlikely to hold many significant thereby allowing the opportunity for maximising opportunities for landfill. This is because of both economies of scale. It also facilitates the the need to avoid sterilisation of deep clay continuation of existing employment. reserves and the need to maximise the potential Development at existing sites can also be for the backfilling of china clay wastes. Further assessed more readily because of known patterns advice is contained in the Cornwall Minerals of environmental impacts. However extensions Local Plan 1997. to, or the intensification of the use of an existing site will only be acceptable where the Previously Used Land development is compatible with the policies contained in this Plan regarding safeguarding of 5.15 There is also a considerable amount of the environment and the control of waste previously used land in Cornwall arising from facilities. not only the metalliferous and other mining extraction but also military and other past Mineral Workings developments. This may hold some potential for the location of new waste management facilities. 5.12 Mineral workings can potentially provide The County Council will seek to facilitate suitable locations for a range of waste opportunities for the treatment or management facilities. This can assist the landfilling/landraising of wastes which will restoration of these often substantial voids and reclaim previously used land but will also have can represent significant opportunities for waste regard to the need to protect sites with important management facilities, particularly landfilling. ecological, archaeological and geological However the sterilisation of important mineral features. reserves should be avoided, unless an overriding case of need can be demonstrated for the Integration with Other Development proposed waste management facility and this accords with the BPEO for that waste stream. 5.16 Opportunities also exist for certain types Further guidance on interpreting the BPEO can of development in locations either adjacent to, or be found at paragraph 7.6 and further detailed in close proximity to, existing waste facilities guidance concerning mineral extraction and where this would enable the recovery of either associated activities is dealt with in greater detail materials or energy. Proposals for such related in the Cornwall Minerals Local Plan 1997. developments would be acceptable where the proposal is compatible with the Development Plan and with the relevant policies in this Plan.
34 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
5.17 Some waste management facilities such Policy L1 as Civic Amenity sites and waste transfer stations could potentially be located at Applications for waste management facilities appropriate sites within industrial estates where should have regard to the strategic approach there is no conflict with adjacent or nearby users. indicated in Policy S1 and the following Indeed, the existing Civic Amenity site at St. principles and objectives :- Ives is within an industrial area and the United Mines Civic Amenity site is in relatively close a) the management of waste as close as proximity to the United Downs industrial estate. practicable to its place of production However industrial areas can sometimes contain (the Proximity Principle), subject to sensitive occupiers such as food processors, the identification of the Best printers and certain industrial processors and it is Practicable Environmental Option; important therefore that such potential conflicts are avoided or that any adverse effects can be b) the achievement and maintenance of mitigated. self-sufficiency for the management of waste arisings in Cornwall in general Waste Management and a contribution if required towards regional self-sufficiency for special Principles hazardous wastes during the Plan period; 5.18 In examining proposals which utilise particular techniques for the management and c) the protection of the natural and disposal of individual waste streams, regard will historic environment (including sites of need to be given to four key principles of this recognised nature conservation value), Plan. These principles of waste management are and the amenity of local residents the Best Practicable Environmental Option, the from impacts which cannot be Proximity Principle, the Waste Hierarchy and mitigated to an acceptable level; County self-sufficiency (further details in Chapter 2). For some low quantity waste streams d) maximising the recovery of usable which need to be dealt with at specialist heat, energy or materials; facilities, e.g. specialist/hazardous waste, the requirement for such facilities will need to be e) the utilisation of previously used land assessed on a regional basis. In these where practicable; circumstances the requirement for such ‘regional facilities’ will be assessed having regard to any f) the potential for assisting in the strategy or emerging strategy prepared by the appropriate restoration of mineral Regional Planning Body for Waste. workings;
5.19 It is imperative therefore that a balance g) the need for adequate transport is struck between achieving potential economies arrangements, including rail access of scale and the need to provide an adequate where appropriate and practicable, network of sites to meet local (and in some and for good accessibility. specific cases regional) needs while minimising the effects and costs of transport and any environmental impacts. The principles are included in a framework policy (policy L1 below) which should be read in conjunction with all other policies of this Plan.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 35 Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
Individual Waste transfer to bulk consumers of such materials. Streams Such facilities reflect an industrial type use and should therefore be located either on suitable Municipal Solid Waste/Commercial industrial land, or adjacent to large waste and Industrial Waste management facilities. The main planning considerations of such facilities can include potential impacts on neighbouring uses and 5.20 On the basis of the strategy for the traffic generation. The network of existing and management of the household, commercial and permitted MRFs in Cornwall does not necessitate industrial waste streams indicated in Chapter 4, the identification of additional sites at this point. consideration must be given to the provision of a range of new waste management facilities. These Policy L2 are needed to complement, replace and reinforce the existing network and waste management Applications for Materials Recycling Facilities facilities. There will also always be some will be permitted on suitable industrial land, requirement for landfill capacity to take non- previously used land or on or adjacent to recovered waste and residuals from recovery existing waste management facilities. processes. To achieve the goal of providing a system of integrated waste management, new facilities ranging from recycling banks through Civic Amenity Sites to new Civic Amenity sites and to a new Energy from Waste plant will be needed to be provided 5.23 The network of County Council Civic during the Plan period. These are examined in Amenity (CA) sites represents a key component hierarchical order below:- of the delivery of integrated waste management in Cornwall. These sites provide important Recovery facilities for householders and also represent a key opportunity for increasing the rates of 5.21 To achieve the higher rates of recovery recovery of components of the waste stream (33% by 2010) indicated in the Waste Strategy which can be recycled or composted. It is 2000, in the form of recyclable (re-usable) therefore essential that the network is kept under materials, will require new facilities such as review and optimised where practicable, in order Materials Recycling Facilities, new community to provide the most effective coverage for the recycling points and the enhanced provision of population. Civic Amenity facilities. The County Council as Waste Planning Authority will usually determine 5.24 The existing network demonstrates a proposals concerning the use of land for the shortfall in provision in a number of areas, which development of such facilities. Currently the need to be addressed. While an application for a distribution of functions relating to waste CA site for Saltash has recently been permitted, management proposals is under review by the questions remain over the provision of sites Government (for clarification reasons). Proposals particularly for Penzance, Hayle/St Ives, for facilities to reprocess collected recycled Falmouth and Truro. At Penzance a replacement materials would normally be matters for the site for the closed Posses Lane facility requires district and borough planning authorities and urgent identification. The temporary St Erth site detailed policy advice can be found in the has become increasingly popular with local relevant district wide local plans. residents particularly of Hayle, while the St Ives site needs to be replaced by a larger site. The 5.22 Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs) current CA site at United Mines is due to close in provide the method for separating and “bulking 2010 and is seven miles from the centres of both up” quantities of recyclable materials for onward Truro and Falmouth. Within Truro there appears
36 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities to be potential sites in proximity to the Waste However, at the District and Borough Council Water Treatment Works at the southern end of level the network of recycling facilities will need Newham Road subject to the completion of to be expanded where new residential proposed highway improvements, whilst in development is proposed or where there is a Falmouth vacant sites along and in the vicinity shortfall in existing provision. Similarly, where of Bickland Water Road may hold long term proposals for major developments such as potential as Civic Amenity sites. These potential retailing and tourist facilities are being areas for new Civic Amenity facilities in Truro considered it may be appropriate to require and Falmouth are indicated as small Areas of additional recycling collection facilities. Search in the Inset Plans. Any proposal to locate a Civic Amenity facility within those areas 5.27 The network of Civic Amenity site specified above would require the benefit of a provision must be integrated with both planning permission and must satisfy the Community Recycling Points (CRPs) and with necessary planning and pollution control the recycling collection practices of the WCAs. requirements. With the provisos set out above, This goal should be sought in order firstly to the existing CA network mostly demonstrates a optimise the opportunity for recycling and, strong functional relationship with the principal secondly to reduce the potential for inadvertently centres of population. The County Council will excluding significant sections of the community seek to develop this network to address the from recycling opportunities. weaknesses outlined above. Policy L3 5.25 The network of CA sites does fail however to provide a service to the more remote Provision will be made for additional civic areas of population e.g. West Penwith, the Rame amenity sites in Cornwall and consideration Peninsula and the Roseland. Some consideration will be given to those areas currently under- therefore needs to be given to the service provided with such facilities; namely provision in more remote rural areas, building on Penzance, Hayle/ St. Ives, Truro, and the example of the village skip service provided Falmouth. Areas of Search for the provision of by Penwith District Council, which provides a a Civic Amenity Site in both Truro and staffed skip to settlements on a once a month Falmouth are indicated as Inset Plans 1 and 2. basis. However, such provision does not raise specific land use issues and is more of a Applications for Civic Amenity sites will be management issue for the Waste Disposal permitted on suitable industrial land, Authority and the Waste Collection Authorities. previously used land, or on or adjacent to Clearly, however, such a system offers the existing waste management facilities and potential for increasing the recovery of materials where they extend the network of such from the waste stream, and the County Council facilities in Cornwall, and are in reasonable will liaise with the District Councils over proximity to the population which they are achieving this aim. intended to serve.
5.26 Community Recycling Points (CRPs) represent a key component in the receipt of Policy L4 recyclable material direct from the public and have been provided by the County and District Provision will be made for additional Councils. CRPs are provided at various sites, recycling sites in Cornwall. ranging from village hall car parks, to large supermarkets. The provision of additional CRP Applications for Community Recycling Points facilities does not necessarily raise land use will be permitted within new housing schemes, planning issues for the County Council. at major developments used by the public,
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 37 Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
and in appropriate locations where the Energy from Waste environment and amenity of local residents can be adequately protected and where they 5.29 The need to significantly reduce the extend the network of such facilities in quantities of Municipal Solid Waste disposed of Cornwall and are in reasonable proximity to at the two existing putrescible landfills in the population which they are intended to Cornwall has led to the strategy outlined in serve. Chapter 4. This is based on a system of integrated waste management at the heart of which is the adoption of energy from waste Composting technology.
5.28 The strategy for this waste stream 5.30 The strategy anticipates the provision of requires the provision for a substantial expansion a single EfW plant in order to obtain the in composting capacity. In addition to the home- necessary economies of scale. Such plants are composting initiatives promoted by the District substantial in scale and have key locational Councils, it is essential that centralised requirements. These factors include a large flat composting facilities are developed by the site (minimum of five hectares) with sufficient District and County Councils and the private space for provision of residual material recycling sector. Suitable locations for such facilities are and materials recycling facilities, excellent likely to include agricultural holdings where the transport linkages in terms of both rail and road, proposed methods are similar to agricultural good opportunities for connection to the local practices, or industrial type locations where “in- electricity distribution network and good vessel” composting systems are proposed to be proximity to potential heat consumers. adopted. The County Council as Waste Planning Optimally the site should be served by rail from Authority will seek to encourage the provision of those areas of Cornwall which have reasonable a network of composting facilities in liaison with access to the existing rail network as this mode the Waste Disposal Authority, the District of transport offers potentially significant Councils and waste operators. environmental advantages over movement solely by road vehicles. Policy L5 5.31 In seeking to achieve the goals of Provision will be made for an adequate sustainable development, opportunities for network of composting sites in Cornwall. utilising surplus energy and particularly the surplus heat produced by an EfW plant must be Applications for composting facilities will be maximised. In terms of heat consumption, permitted where the development is located examples of potential consumers can include within an area of industrial development, or residential, commercial and local authority at existing waste management facilities, or buildings, industrial premises and processes and within agricultural holdings and where the certain intensive agricultural practices. sites would not be intrusive or visually Applications for such developments adjacent to prominent in the landscape and where they an EfW plant will be considered by the relevant extend the network of such facilities in planning authorities within the spatial planning Cornwall and are in reasonable proximity to policy framework provided in the relevant parts the population which they are intended to of the development plan including the Cornwall serve. Structure Plan and the district wide local plans. Flue or fly, ash is classified as a ‘special waste’, and will need to be sent out of the County for final disposal.
38 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
5.32 It is also essential that the capacity of an southwards to Conce Moor, south westerly to a EfW plant receiving household waste does not corner near Nankervis on the A3058 then prejudice the achievement of the policy of northwards via Goonbarn, Trefullock and Ennis significantly increasing the recycling target to Barton and onto the Trekenning roundabout. It 33% by 2010. Policy L6 therefore indicates a will not include the area of Goss Moor SSSI, maximum gross capacity for an EfW plant. This NNR or potential candidate Special Area of gross capacity anticipates a proportion of Conservation. This area has now been extended commercial and industrial waste inputs (20,000 to include an area of previously used land to the tonnes) and an allowance for maintenance and south of Nanpean. This land at Drinnick is down time of 10% of the gross capacity (see adjacent to an existing china clay refining plant Appendix 9). The indicated capacity in policy L6 at Goverseth. There exists the potential to utilise will therefore, complement, not prejudice, the heat and power produced by an EfW plant increased levels of recycling and composting. enhancing clay refining processes. The site is poorly served by public highways and therefore 5.33 This range of key locational factors could only be developed if such a plant is served clearly restricts the availability of suitable sites by rail with road transferred waste accessing the in Cornwall and when environmental site via china clay industry haul roads from considerations/designations are also added the public roads near the Primary Route Network. scope is reduced still further. The combination of a more specific waste management strategy and 5.36 The area within this boundary offers a the locational requirements of an EfW facility concentration of locational factors that are not does enable the County Council to be more found to the same intensity or level anywhere specific in terms of identifying potential waste else in Cornwall. Important elements of the management locations, than was the case in County’s road networks cross this area including previous versions of this Plan. the A30, the A39, A3058, A391 and the A38 joins the A30 further to the east. In addition, 5.34 The County Council is not, however, in a both the Newquay/Par railway line and the position to be able to indicate precise land use Cornwall Minerals Railway traverse the area and allocations in this Plan for an EfW plant. Whilst the main line is located to the south of the area. specific site identification would be ultimately Electricity grids at the 33 kilovolts (kv) 132kv desirable there are clear practical difficulties in and 400kv (The National Grid) cross the area identifying potential individual sites for an EfW with existing switching stations at Gaverigan and plant. The County Council does not have the Fraddon. In terms of potential heat consumers, level of environmental information available to there exist a number of residential areas, a wide justify the identification of sites. Site specific variety of sites currently or formerly used by the proposals for an EfW plant have not therefore china clay industry, and industrial estates and as been pursued in this Plan. yet undeveloped allocations, particularly at Indian Queens, Victoria, St Columb Major and a Central Cornwall Area of Search potential mixed use site at St Lawrences Hospital, Bodmin. 5.35 The locational requirements for a single EfW plant, as indicated in para. 5.29, have led 5.37 Within this Area of Search, proposed the County Council to identify an Area of Search locations for an EfW plant will be assessed located in the centre of Cornwall. The Area of against criteria for prioritising site identification. Search is formed by a boundary line (as It is important that locations are optimised to indicated on the inset of the Proposals Map) maximise the suitability and range of commencing at a point to the south west of St infrastructure available. Given the permanency Columb Major running in an north easterly of these facilities and their sheer scale it is direction to a point to the west of Bodmin, imperative that the site selection is optimised as
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40 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities much as possible. However, it is accepted that 5.38 An EfW plant at the size and scale not all sites will achieve the optimal range of anticipated in this Plan would, if developed, factors listed in Policy L6. represent a substantial development which could have a significant visual and landscape impact. Policy L6 The County Council therefore commissioned specialist advice on “Assessing the Landscape Within the Central Cornwall Area of Search and Visual Issues Associated with EfW (Inset 1) applications for an Energy from Proposals.” Further guidance for potential Waste Plant will be approved where the developers is included in the Plan as Appendix 7. proposals:- Policy L6A a) demonstrate reasonable proximity and accessibility to the Primary Route Applications for an EfW plant should fully Network; and assess and quantify any landscape and visual effect and demonstrate that proposals will not b) the Plant is to be served by rail; and adversely impact on the special character of Cornwall’s landscape, or cause significant c) demonstrate reasonable proximity and adverse impact on the visual amenity of local a good quality connection to the main residents or recreational users. Any adverse electricity grids; and effects will be taken into account in determining the planning application. d) will produce both electricity and heat for off-site consumption; and Planning permission will not be granted for EfW proposals which would:- e) have sufficient on site capacity to provide for residue processing ! harm landscape features such as facilities; and ancient woodland, significant areas of other woodland, historic parkland, f) can demonstrate that any adjacent extensive areas of semi-natural ancillary development will be in vegetation, hedgerows or trees of accordance with the spatial strategy significant landscape or nature contained in the relevant development conservation importance; plan; and ! cause loss of important local g) do not adversely effect the integrity of landscapes; a candidate Special Area of Conservation; and ! be incompatible with local landscape character in terms of location, scale, h) the Plant has a gross maximum annual building design or choice of planting; capacity of no more than 200,000 tonnes. ! cause significant light pollution of surrounding rural landscapes; Where the proposals for an EfW plant do not meet all of the above criteria, careful ! cause significant impact on the visual consideration will be given to the exclusion of amenity of local residents or individual requirements of this policy and recreational users. components of the design of the scheme.
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Policy L6B Other Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Facilities The design, siting and external appearance of a proposal should complement its landscape 5.41 To achieve the goal of the provision of setting and use materials and colours an integrated system of waste management for appropriate to the location in which the plant Municipal Solid Waste treatment, a range of is to be located. Landscaping should be additional facilities will need to be provided. incorporated as an integral part of the overall development of the site. High quality design 5.42 It is anticipated that an additional will be required and innovative design will be road/rail transfer facility in the south east of sought in appropriate locations. Cornwall is likely to be required to serve a centrally located household waste EfW plant as part of the strategy to deal with Municipal Solid Alternative EfW Provision Waste. Additional waste transfer stations, which may be needed to serve new integrated waste 5.39 The identification of an Area of Search management facilities will be considered against in the central area of Cornwall is based upon the the criteria of policy L7. West Cornwall is strategy for a single large EfW plant to deal with currently provided for at the St Erth Waste household waste as indicated in Chapter 4. Transfer Station and the north is served by However, developments in waste management in transfer activities at the Bangors Civic Amenity neighbouring authorities, particularly Plymouth and transfer site, near Launceston. In Restormel, and West Devon, or further changes in the Borough Council operates two transfer technology, could have a bearing upon the stations, in Newquay and St. Austell, for the preferred household waste strategy. EfW is a bulking of collected wastes, before transfer to the generic phrase covering a range of existing and Connon Bridge landfill site. The findings of emerging technologies which have been going recent feasibility studies have demonstrated the through a period of rapid change. Such practicality and economic viability of the transfer technologies currently include of household waste by rail in Cornwall to an gasification/pyrolosis and anaerobic digestion. It EfW plant in the centre of the County. The is possible, therefore, that a new optimal method number and location of waste transfer stations of EfW provision could emerge, although this is can only be determined when a decision is taken currently considered unlikely. Any subsequent on the precise type of EfW provision and the proposals for EfW provision for the household associated methods of collection, compaction waste stream other than in accordance with the and transfer of waste. strategy outlined will be assessed against the general approach and detailed policies outlined Policy L7 in this Plan. Provision will be made for an adequate 5.40 This strategy for the household waste network of Waste Transfer Stations in stream does not preclude the potential for the Cornwall. Applications for waste transfer development of small scale EfW facilities which stations will be permitted where the facility :- would take elements of other waste streams particularly where related to existing or proposed a) has reasonable proximity to the developments which could use heat and power Primary Route network and/or rail produced by an EfW facility. network; and
b) is in reasonable proximity to the population which it is intended to serve.
42 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
Landfill/Landraising period of the Plan as a requirement of the implementation of the EC Landfill Directive, 5.43 As previously indicated the continued national waste policy and the policies in this level of reliance on landfill for the disposal of Plan, and the level of existing capacity in the bio-degradable household, commercial and County, it is not considered that there is currently industrial waste must be significantly reduced any need for additional landfill capacity. This over the Plan period and beyond. That is not to position is reflected in policy L8 which states say that landfill will no longer represent a waste that permission for additional facilities will not management option in Cornwall. The be granted unless certain criteria are met. In landfilling/landraising of such wastes will remain particular there should be a need for the facility an essential component of the integrated waste having regard to the scope for recovery through management strategy for Cornwall, particularly other forms of waste management higher up the where there is energy recovered from landfill Waste Hierarchy. The need for additional landfill gas. Until an EfW plant becomes operational capacity will however need to be re-considered (which could take five or more years), and the at Plan review. rate of re-use, recycling, and composting increases substantially, then landfill will remain Policy L8 the key waste management option in Cornwall. Applications for new landfill/landraising sites, 5.44 Landfill capacity for putrescible waste in or extensions to existing sites, for household, the County is provided by three sites; United industrial and commercial wastes will not be Mines, Connon Bridge and Lean Quarry. United permitted unless:- Mines serves primarily the western end of the County and currently receives 50% of all a) there is a need for the facility having municipal and non-inert industrial and regard to other waste management commercial waste arisings in Cornwall. Consent options further up the Waste for landfilling here extends to October 2010. Hierarchy; Connon Bridge serves the eastern part of the County and on the basis of current filling rates b) it can be demonstrated that the and original estimates of total voidspace is alternative sites have been considered; expected to run until around 2006. Lean Quarry, where consent was granted in March 2002, will c) the site will be restored, on a serve the eastern part of the County and has an progressive basis where practicable, to anticipated life of 27 years. It is estimated that a standard suitable for an appropriate there is sufficient voidspace to meet the County’s and beneficial after-use. needs in the eastern part of the County for the whole of the Plan period and probably beyond. For the west of the County the issue of provision Construction and beyond 2010 (when consent at United Mines expires) will need to be addressed at Plan review. Demolition Wastes More detailed information on landfill capacity requirements and voidspace at individual sites is 5.46 As indicated in Chapter 3 and Appendix given in Appendix 9. The capacity at Connon 9, there are no detailed figures or estimates of Bridge is currently the subject of discussion the arisings of the waste stream from the between the Planning Authority, the operator activities of the construction and demolition (CES Ltd) and the Environment Agency. industries in Cornwall. This waste stream is principally inert in nature and has traditionally 5.45 Given the required reduction in been disposed of at landfills. quantities of wastes going to landfill over the
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5.47 Government policy contained in Policy L9 Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6 and the Waste Strategy 2000 consider increasing the The Waste Planning Authority will seek to quantities of waste that is re-used and/or encourage Local Planning Authorities, in their recycled. This will reduce the dependence on the consideration of redevelopment proposals, to consumption of primary aggregates and reduce ensure that schemes allow for the potential re- the amount of such materials being disposed of use of materials arising from the process of to landfill. A change in policy and the demolition where practicable. This can be introduction of the Landfill Tax has led to a achieved through:- significant change in practice with a substantial proportion of this stream now being re-used and a) processing and subsequent re-use of recycled for construction and agricultural materials within the site ; or developments. b) on-site processing before re-use at 5.48 The County Council will have regard to another site. the need to ensure an adequate County-wide network of facilities with sufficient capacity for managing these wastes. Such facilities should be Policy L10 provided in reasonable proximity both to the principal sources of arisings and to the Primary Applications for recycling facilities for Route Network in order to reduce potentially construction and demolition wastes at landfill adverse transport related impacts. The County sites permitted to receive such wastes and at Council will seek to positively promote operational quarries will be permitted where:- opportunities to minimise vehicle journeys through the use of back loading of vehicles. a) the site is in reasonable proximity to principal settlements or the source of 5.49 The County Council will seek positively the waste; and to facilitate the re-use and recycling of construction and demolition wastes whenever b) the site is in reasonable proximity to possible. This is being sought by the introduction the Primary Route Network; of a sequential policy approach to applications for facilities for construction and demolition Applications for other construction and wastes. In considering proposals for the re- demolition waste management facilities will be development and demolition of development considered against the criteria-based policies sites planning authorities should encourage, contained in this Plan. wherever practicable, the on-site recycling of demolition materials. Special/Hazardous Waste
5.50 Arisings of special and hazardous waste are predominantly (90%) disposed of at out-of- County specialist facilities. It is not anticipated that this situation will significantly change given the high capital cost of these facilities and the comparatively low level of arisings in Cornwall. Currently most of this waste goes to specialist sub-national facilities. The only material of this
44 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities nature, commonly disposed of in the County is for such facilities against the general policies bonded asbestos waste and this goes to the contained in this Plan. The County Council existing licensed landfills at United Mines and supports the continued expansion and Connon Bridge (although asbestos waste is not improvement of such facilities and will permitted to be disposed of in the extension to contribute to improving the quality of the water the United Mines landfill). environment through assisting site selection and considering planning applications promptly. 5.51 Given Cornwall’s rich mining history and the activities of the marine industry there are Policy L11 potential arisings of waste materials contaminated with heavy metals. Should demand Applications for waste water treatment emerge for the provision of specialist treatment, facilities will be approved where:- processing or disposal facilities to deal with such materials, then any subsequent application will a) the scheme is part of an integrated be assessed against the general policies of this network of facilities to meet Plan. compliance with EC Directives;
Waste Water b) the plant will have sufficient capacity to meet the existing proposed Treatment Plants development requirements over the Plan period to 2011; and 5.52 The majority of waste water treatment schemes for Cornwall that were prioritised under c) the scheme is reasonably close to the the water industry infrastructure development population and settlements it is plans referred to as the Asset Management Plan intended to serve; and 2 (AMP2) process and the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Directive have now either d) the site is adjacent to or on an been completed or are in the process of industrial site or on previously used construction. land unless it can be shown that other sites are acceptable; and 5.53 Under the AMP3 programme for 2000- 2005 a number of proposed system e) the site has adequate road access. improvements and new waste water treatment schemes have been identified to deal with both continuous discharge and storm overflows in Sewage Sludge Cornwall. A list of improvements to Waste Water Treatment Works for the period 2002 -2005 is included at Appendix 5. This programme has 5.55 The disposal of sewage sludge in been prioritised on a catchment basis but with Cornwall is currently almost exclusively to land, the quality of bathing and shellfish waters being particularly since the implication of the ban on a high priority. However due to the uncertainty dumping at sea in December 1998. However, of financial constraints, OFWAT priorities and as considerable uncertainty clouds the future of this yet undetermined levels of treatment, it is almost disposal route because of environmental impossible to identify specific sites for the considerations including the British Retail necessary infrastructure. Consortium’s concerns about levels of treatment and consequent restrictions on application rates 5.54 Given the lack of certainty regarding of sludge to agricultural land and levels of these potential developments, the approach of the treatment. South West Water (SWW) has County Council will be to consider applications indicated a 40% increase in the production of
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 45 Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
46 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities sewage sludge during the plan period to 2011 because of increases in the population and households and the development of new and improved waste water treatment works.
Policy L12
Applications for facilities to process sewage sludge, or co-treat it with other waste streams, in order to reduce the pollution risk will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that benefits will be derived from the treated sludge, whether it be in the form of compost, energy recovery or as a soil conditioner by application to land.
Other Wastes
5.56 A wide range of individual and smaller controlled waste streams arise in Cornwall including scrap metals, agricultural waste, mineral waste, mine water wastes, marine wastes and clinical/veterinary wastes. A range of collection, transfer and treatment facilities exist within Cornwall for the management of these waste streams and therefore do not need explicit coverage in this Plan. Should applications for waste management facilities for these wastes be forthcoming they shall be assessed against the general policies contained in this Plan.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 47 Chapter 5 - The Development and Location of Waste Management Facilities
48 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment Chapter 6
The Protection of the Environment
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 49 Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment
The Plan Approach Policy E1
6.1 Cornwall has a rich and diverse Applications for waste management facilities environment marked by the quality of its adversely affecting the integrity of a Special landscape and its natural, historical and man- Area of Conservation or Special Protection made features. This asset base needs to be valued Area, having regard to the site’s conservation both in itself and as an integral part of the quality objectives, will not be permitted. of life for residents and visitors alike. The environment provides positive and tangible Where such an area hosts a priority natural economic benefits across the economy of habitat or species, development will not be Cornwall, including sectors as important as permitted, unless it is necessary for reasons of agriculture and tourism. It is essential to strike human health or public safety or for the balance to avoid, wherever possible, beneficial consequences of primary damaging the very factors that make individual importance for nature conservation. areas unique and attractive whilst maintaining the social and economic well being of local communities. It is also essential that the benefits Protected Species of the provision of a network of more sustainable waste management facilities which deals with 6.4 Certain species are protected under the waste arising in Cornwall, where practicable, is Wildlife and Countryside Act (as amended). In achieved during the Plan period. addition, badgers are protected under specific legislation. Whilst it is an offence to kill, injure 6.2 The value of the conservation assets in and sometimes disturb these species, Cornwall is reflected by a policy approach and development proposals may affect their habitats. hierarchy indicated in national planning policy It is important therefore to protect these species guidance. It is essential that these features are through additional controls on development. not damaged by inappropriately located or When considering relevant development poorly operated waste management facilities. proposals, the County Council will seek and act The key objective is, therefore, to protect natural on the advice of wildlife conservation bodies in and man-made resources from inappropriate order to safeguard the habitats of protected development of waste management facilities, species. In addition, these bodies may be able to ensuring that all alternative less environmentally suggest mitigation measures to protect species. important sites are considered before sites are Where mitigation measures are required they located within designated areas. will be secured through a condition or planning obligation. Areas of International Policy E2 Significance Applications for waste management facilities, 6.3 Significant elements of Cornwall’s which are likely to result in harm to a countryside is of outstanding international statutorily protected species or its habitat, will importance. These areas have statutory not be permitted unless the protection of the recognition as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) species can be secured through a condition or and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) via planning obligation. the requirements of the EC Birds and Habitats Directives incorporated into the UK regulatory system through the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994.
50 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment
Areas of National Policy E3 Significance Applications for waste management facilities likely to have a significant adverse effect on 6.5 Cornwall’s countryside contains a National Nature Reserves and/or Sites of substantial element of features which merit Special Scientific Interest will be the subject recognition as being of national significance. of the most rigorous examination and will Such areas include Areas of Outstanding Natural only be permitted if :- Beauty (AONBs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Scheduled Ancient a) damaging impacts can be prevented; Monuments (SAMs). Advice contained in national guidance indicates an approach specific b) the benefits of the development to the landscape, biodiversity and historical outweigh the nature conservation elements of national significance. The approach value of the site; and indicated in this Plan therefore seeks to interpret this national guidance in the context of Cornwall. c) the development includes proposals to enhance the conservation value of the Biodiversity and Earth Science site as part of the management or Conservation restoration scheme.
6.6 The prime nature conservation assets of In the case of the proposals likely to have Cornwall are the remaining areas of natural, significant adverse effect on National Nature semi-natural and other wildlife habitats (about Reserves and sites of Special Scientific 22% of Cornwall’s land area). These assets are Interest, particular attention will be paid to covered by a wide range of local, national and their national importance. international designations. In seeking to protect this rich biodiversity the County Council will carefully examine any proposals for waste Historic Environment management facilities which could affect features of biodiversity value. 6.8 Cornwall has a wealth of archaeological and historic sites ranging from pre-historic 6.7 The complexity and variety of settlements and burial sites, stone circles and hill Cornwall’s geology and mineral exposures has forts to the mines, harbours and chapels of the resulted in numerous sites of local, national and last 200 years. This rich historic heritage is international geological and geomorphological reflected in a range of features including Areas importance. Few areas in the UK contain a of Great Historic Value (AGHVs), nationally comparable wealth of interest. A number of these important archaeological remains; including sites have been designated as SSSIs because of Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Conservation their national geological significance. Areas, historic gardens and battlefields. The international value of the historic mining heritage has justified an application for World Heritage Status for the mining districts. Proposals for waste management development will need to provide adequate information on the historic environment, which may well require a prior archaeological assessment of the site.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 51 Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment
Policy E4 are indicated on the proposals plans of the adopted and emerging individual district wide Applications for waste management facilities local plans. Whilst not having statutory which would have a significant adverse effect protection and therefore not afforded the same on a nationally important site, whether level of protection given to sites of international scheduled or not, will not be permitted. and national significance, these areas can be of crucial importance to the overall integrity of the natural and historic environments of the County. Nationally Significant Landscapes 6.12 Applications for waste management 6.9 The Cornish landscape presents a wide facilities in such areas will require detailed and variety of form and character reflected by a careful consideration by the WPA and the marked distinctiveness and sensitivity between relevant consultees. Whilst applications for waste areas. A large element of the County’s landscape management facilities will not normally be is of national importance and was designated in permitted within these areas it may be that the 1953 as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty need for such a facility is such that permission (AONB) with a further Area more recently may be granted. Compensatory measures and designated in the Tamar Valley. The objective of mitigation which minimise the potential impact the designation as an AONB is to conserve and of a proposed development in these areas will be enhance the natural beauty of the landscape. sought in all cases in order to maintain the quality of the local environment. Policy E5 Policy E6 Applications for waste management facilities which would have a significant adverse effect Applications for waste management facilities on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or likely to have a significant adverse affect on the Heritage Coast, including the impact of areas or sites of County-wide importance proposals which bound AONBs or the including Areas of Great Historic, Landscape Heritage Coast, will not be permitted. and Scientific Value, Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites, Local Nature Reserves, Cornwall Nature 6.10 In addition to the AONB, ten stretches of Conservation Sites and sites listed on the Sites Cornish coastline are considered to be of and Monuments Register will only be national significance and have been designated permitted where the benefits of the as Heritage Coasts by the former Countryside development outweigh the detrimental effects Commission. of the proposal on the value of the area or site, having taken into account measures to Areas and Sites of minimise the impacts and provide for mitigation. Local Significance
6.11 Areas of local significance include sites 6.13 The precise boundaries of the Areas of and areas of land which are identified as having Great Historic, Landscape and Scientific Value at least local and sometimes regional importance. are defined as part of the Development Plan in These areas include Areas of Great Historic, the Cornwall Countryside Local Plan and Landscape and Scientific Value, Regionally following the last review of the Structure Plan, Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites amended boundaries will in future be found in (RIGs), Local Nature Reserves and Cornwall the district-wide local plans which are at various Nature Conservation (CNCs) Sites. These sites stages in their development. The boundaries of
52 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment the AGHVs, AGLVs and AGSVs are shown for Policy E7 information, on the Proposals Map of this Plan and are derived from the Cornwall Structure Plan Applications for waste management facilities 1997. The relevant district-wide plans should be on land classified as best and most versatile consulted for the precise boundaries. agricultural land Grades 1,2 and 3A will not be permitted unless :- Agricultural Land a) the benefits of the development would outweigh the need to protect the land; 6.14 National policy as indicated in Planning or Policy Guidance Note 7 ‘The Countryside: Environmental Quality and Economic and Social b) sufficient land of a lower grade (3b, 3c, Development’ which states that best and most 4 or 5) or other used land within the versatile agricultural land (Grades 1, 2 and 3A) farmholding is unavailable; or is a resource of national significance and that considerable weight should be attached to its c) available lower grade land has an protection. environmental value by statutory designation and outweighs the 6.15 Proposed changes to the use of the best agricultural considerations. and most versatile land are the most significant in terms of the national agricultural interest. The Within these grades, where there is a choice County Council will seek to protect the best and between sites of different classification, unless most versatile agricultural land and the economic other sustainable development considerations viability of an individual farm if part of its land outweigh the agricultural land quality is lost to a waste management facility. considerations, development should be directed towards land of the lowest possible classification.
The Open Countryside
6.16 Much of the landscape of Cornwall’s undesignated coast and countryside is of outstanding quality. To maintain the character of the landscape and its individual features, which include woodland, hedgerows, rivers etc., in these circumstances requires both a precautionary approach towards the management of change and the improvement of those aspects of the countryside which are spoilt or disturbed. In doing this it is important not only to identify those parts of Cornwall which are of greatest value but also not to lose sight of the fact that all the landscape is important in defining its distinctiveness and character of the County. Development should aim to contribute positively to this.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 53 Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment
Policy E8 possible that leachate disposal via irrigation may not be an available disposal route in the medium Applications for waste management facilities to long term. should have no significant adverse effects on the character of areas of open and 6.20 Former landfill sites remain a undesignated countryside, which cannot be considerable threat to the water environment. outweighed by potential benefits arising from Many of these sites are managed by the County the development. Council and monitored through regulatory control administered by the Environment Agency. Records of the precise locations of these The Water sites and other landfills are held by both organisations and both are consulted by the Environment District Councils on any development proposal within 250 metres of such sites. 6.17 Waste management facilities can, potentially, have a significant damaging effect on Policy E9 the water environment, including water quality, wildlife value, recreation and fishing. Those Applications for waste management facilities wastes which pose the most threat to the water which would have a significant adverse effect environment are those that degrade or leach to on the quality of surface and groundwater or produce water soluble products and include materially adversely affect its value as a domestic, commercial and industrial wastes. The resource for wildlife, recreation, fishing or County Council has an important role to play in human consumption will not be permitted the protection of the water environment through unless appropriate measures to minimise the the determination of applications for waste impact and provide for mitigation can be management facilities and associated achieved. development. While the Environment Agency has statutory control over the consideration of Flood Risk the water environment, the consideration is a material consideration in the determination of applications for waste management facilities. 6.21 The County Council has an important role to play in preventing any increase in flood 6.18 The County Council will therefore work risk which could endanger life and damage in close liaison with the Environment Agency natural and built assets through not permitting during the consideration and determination of waste management facilities inappropriately applications for waste management facilities. located in a floodplain and by preventing Potential developers may be requested to development that would increase surface water undertake a Water Interests Survey in appropriate run-off. To an unacceptable degree. Guidance for cases as specified by the Environment Agency, planning authorities dealing with this issue is as part of any Environmental Impact Assessment. contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25 ‘Development and Flood Risk’. If there are no 6.19 Close attention will be given to proposed alternative locations for a waste management schemes for leachate management particularly at facility which is in a flood risk area or which landfill sites and also at composting sites. The would unacceptably increase surface water run- County Council adopted an interim policy off, then compensatory capacity will be sought to towards the practice of leachate irrigation in mitigate these impacts. Close liaison with the 1994, and this will be superseded by the policies Environment Agency will be maintained in all of this Plan and the Code of Practice, included at cases. Appendix 3, on the Plan’s formal adoption. It is
54 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment
Policy E10
Applications for waste management facilities which would increase the risk of flooding or reduce flow or storage capacity of a floodplain to an unacceptable degree will not be permitted.
Air Quality
6.22 Waste management facilities, and particularly energy from waste facilities and landfills but also composting sites and recycling facilities, can potentially have a significant damaging effect on air quality. The Environment Agency and the Environmental Health Departments of District Councils have responsibility for controlling emissions to air from such facilities. The County Council will therefore liaise closely with these organisations on the potential air quality impacts of waste management facilities in assessing development proposals and in relation to specific waste licensing issues. Applicants are advised to consult the relevant authorities regarding background air quality monitoring prior to making planning applications for any waste management facility. Detailed advice is given in Appendix 8.
Policy E11
Applications for waste management facilities which would have a significant adverse effect on air quality will not be permitted unless appropriate measures to minimise the impact and provide for mitigation can be achieved.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 55 Chapter 6 - The Protection of the Environment
56 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities Chapter 7
The Control of Waste Management Facilities
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 57 Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities
Background 7.4 The framework for development control policies for waste facilities is set by the Cornwall 7.1 The Town and Country Planning Structure Plan, 1997. The following Chapter (Prescription of County Matters) Regulations outlines the County Council’s approach to the 1980, places on the County Council the control of waste management facilities in two responsibility for determining “county matter” sections, the first of which sets out the planning applications. With regard to waste information that applicants will be required to management, these regulations stipulate that the submit in support of applications, and the second County Council determines applications for both the policy approach to operational practice at the deposit of refuse or waste materials and the existing and proposed waste management erection of any building, plant or machinery facilities. designed to be wholly or mainly for purposes of treating, storing, processing or disposing of Information to refuse or waste materials (see Annex C of PPG10). Support Planning Applications 7.2 The planning system exists to regulate development and the use of land in the public interest. The system focuses on the suitability of 7.5 The County Council will require the proposed development in terms of land use applicants to furnish adequate information about rather than on the control of processes which, for proposals for the development of waste waste disposal, is essentially a matter for the management facilities and their potential impacts Environment Agency under the Environmental to enable the County Council and statutory Protection Act 1990. The planning system consultees to determine the full range of the operates in a parallel and complementary manner potential effects of any scheme. The format and with the pollution control system and the County level of detail of this information required will Council will liaise closely with the Environment vary according to location and the nature of the Agency in considering applications for waste proposed operation and should therefore be management facilities. established in informal pre-application consultations with the County Council. Pre- 7.3 The County Council as Waste Planning application discussions should be initiated at the Authority will exercise its duties with regard to earliest practicable opportunity. the control of waste management facilities with the following objectives :- 7.6 In the determination of planning applications for waste management facilities, the ! to encourage sensitive waste County Council will, in accordance with the management site working practices in policies of this Plan, require it to be order to preserve or enhance the overall demonstrated that a proposal is the Best quality of the environment and minimise Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) for risks to human health; that part of the particular waste stream to which the proposal relates. The BPEO analysis should ! to minimise any adverse environmental include consideration of : impact arising from the handling, processing, transport and disposal of a) the objectives of the proposal; waste from the waste management facility; b) EC & UK Government obligations, policies, and guidance for waste management;
58 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities
c) relevant national and regional guidance; Environmental Impact Assessment d) the policies of the development plan and, in particular, where the proposals accord with the overall strategy of the Plan; 7.8 Where the effects of a waste management facility are likely to be significant, e) the Waste Hierarchy; the County Council will normally require the applicants to prepare an Environmental Impact f) the Proximity Principle; Assessment (EIA). Guidance on when an EIA is required and how such a document should be g) social, economic, environmental, land- produced is contained in DoE Circular 02/99 use and resource implications. “Environmental Impact Assessment” and the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Applicants should demonstrate the compatability Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999. of their proposal with any BPEO work and policy development that has been undertaken at 7.9 The County Council will encourage the regional level by the South West Regional close liaison between the developer and statutory Assembly. consultees to ensure that the full remit and scope of an EIA is established at the earliest possible 7.7 Information which will normally be stage. The provision of an EIA will enable the required to accompany any planning application County Council to consider the potential effects will include :- of a development more speedily.
a) a noise report; Operational Practice
b) a visual assessment; (including landscape impact); 7.10 The County Council places a high priority on the protection of local amenity from c) a traffic assessment; the effects of all operations associated with waste management development and will therefore d) an assessment of potential effects on any seek to encourage and, where appropriate, elements of historic or nature require best operational practice at all waste conservation interest; management sites. Careful consideration will therefore be given to assessing the likely and e) a water interests survey, if specified by potential impacts of a waste management facility the Environment Agency; in order to ensure that comprehensive conditions are attached to any subsequent waste f) (where appropriate), an air quality permissions. These will be carefully prepared in assessment; order not to duplicate conditions which may be required by the Environment Agency as part of g) proposals for the mitigation of any the Waste Management Licensing Regulations potentially harmful effects; 1994. Individual aspects which will be examined are considered in greater detail below. h) a geological and hydrogeological survey for an EfW plant or landfilling/landraising proposals.
i) details of planned disposal methods of all residues from EfW facilities.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 59 Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities
Policy C1 In the case of each potential impact close regard will be given to proposed measures to Proposals for waste management facilities will minimise the impacts and to provide for be carefully evaluated for potentially mitigation where appropriate. damaging effects and will not be permitted unless it can be satisfactorily demonstrated that :- Pollution
a) the development includes appropriate 7.11 Waste management facilities have the measures to prevent a significant risk potential to give rise to pollution because of the of pollution; inherent nature of the materials being handled and the related processes. This pollution can be b) the development includes appropriate harmful both to the environment and, potentially measures to prevent harm to public to human health. While pollution is a health or safety; complementary regulatory concern for District Councils and the Environment Agency these c) proposed site management measures matters do represent a material planning can be ensured to protect local consideration in any planning appliction. The amenity through minimising emissions County Council is committed to working with of noise, dust and odour, fumes and the Environment Agency and the District control, litter and vermin and birds; Councils to seek the minimisation of pollution from waste management activities and will need d) the development includes appropriate to be satisfied that risks can be managed. measures to prevent significant visual and landscape impact, which may Air Pollution necessitate off site measures ; 7.12 Emissions of odour, dust, fumes and e) the traffic to and from the gases from waste management facilities can development would not prejudice cause both a hazard and a nuisance to local amenity or highway safety and that amenity. The Environment Agency and District there is adequate highway capacity; Councils are responsible for taking action where emission levels exceed limits which they have f) adequate provision is made for the authorised under the Environmental Protection landscaping of the site and where Act 1990, or where they cause a statutory appropriate for the progressive nuisance. The County Council also plays a key restoration, aftercare and management role in preventing air pollution from waste of the development to an agreed and management operations by considering such suitable after-use; issues prior to the determination of planning applications and in imposing conditions on g) the development does not cause planning consents. potential danger to aircraft either from bird-strike and/or structures 7.13 When considering planning applications associated with the development; for waste management developments, the County Council will seek to ensure that emissions of h) the cumulative impact of individual odour, dust, fumes and gases are kept to an effects will not cause unacceptable acceptable level. This will be done in close detriment to local amenity or the liaison with the appropriate agencies, as natural and historic environment. specified in PPG23, Planning and Pollution Control (1994) and will avoid the duplication of
60 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities responsibilities between pollution control 7.17 When planning permission is granted for agencies and the County Council. waste management facilities, conditions will be imposed to reduce noise at sensitive properties 7.14 In considering planning applications for and environments by :- new EfW plant and landfill capacity, particular attention will be given to the proposed a) employment of all best practicable monitoring, control and long term management means to prevent or minimise the systems for emissions and landfill gas. In creation of noise during the approved use relation to applications for energy from waste of the site; plants, particularly close regard will be given to the comments of the Environment Agency in b) defining the permitted hours of working; relation to chimney and stack emissions. Further advice is given on air quality issues in Chapter 6. c) setting maximum noise limits at the site boundary and/or neighbouring noise- Noise sensitive locations;
7.15 Noise from waste management facilities d) requiring mechanical and landscaping may give rise to public complaints. The measures to mitigate noise emissions; determination of applications for new or extended waste management facilities creates an e) requiring the operator to monitor and opportunity for effective preventative control of keep records of noise. noise and this complements the provisions of Part III of the Environmental Protection Act Transport 1990, which deals with statutory nuisance. Close liaison between all relevant units of the County 7.18 The sheer bulk of waste leads to high Council and the Environmental Health transportation costs and potential adverse impact Departments of the District Councils will be upon amenity and the environment. The County particularly important. Council will consider the distribution of waste management facilities in relation to the road and 7.16 For new waste management proposals, rail network and the need to protect amenity and applicants will be required to submit surveys of environmental interests and safeguard highway existing and predicted noise levels at the safety. boundary of the site and at “noise sensitive” locations and environments in the 7.19 The impact of proposed waste neighbourhood. An evaluation of the predictions management facilities upon traffic using public will indicate where mitigating action is required highways and upon highway safety is a key to make the proposal acceptable. Noise-sensitive consideration for both the Highways Agency properties are normally defined as being (where a proposal will affect the Trunk Road dwellings but this definition can extend to Network) and the County Council when include schools, hospitals, offices, some determining applications for such facilities. factories, livestock farms and places of Where proposals involve access to classified recreation. roads or the adopted route of a proposed road, or is likely to result in a material increase in volume, or change in the character of traffic entering or leaving such a road or is likely to prejudice its improvement or construction, the local highway authority is consulted and may advise that an application should be refused or granted subject to conditions, on highway
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 61 Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities
grounds. The Waste Planning Authority will have wholly successful, through sweeping of the regard to advice from the relevant Highways public highway. The County Council will Authority in dealing with applications for waste normally require such measures as conditions of management facilities. any planning permission for waste management facilities. Road Haulage Public Rights of Way and 7.20 The adverse effects of road haulage Recreational Areas associated with specific proposed waste developments can often be avoided by the 7.24 The County Council has a duty, under imposition of appropriate planning conditions or section 130(1) of the Highways Act 1980, to by the use of legally-binding agreements when assert and protect the rights of the public to use granting planning permission. and enjoy those public rights of way for which it is responsible. The County Council will have 7.21 Where the traffic generated from a regard to the impact upon recorded and claimed proposed waste management facility public rights of way in determining planning development would render the application applications for waste management facilities. unacceptable without improvements to the public highway, waste operators will be required to 7.25 Similarly, the County Council will have enter into a legally binding agreement (under regard to the impact of any proposals upon the section 106 of the Town and Country Planning amenity of sites and areas which are important Act 1990 or section 278 of the Highways Act for the public enjoyment of the coast, 1980), to contribute towards the cost of countryside and recreational areas and routes and modification works (and possibly also make locally important open spaces. Such areas maintenance payments) needed to make the represent an important resource for recreation development acceptable. and tourist industry.
7.22 Where the traffic generated from a Hours of Working proposed waste management development would have a significant adverse affect on the amenity 7.25 Restrictions upon the hours and days of and safety of a residential area, or cause undue working will normally be made to protect local congestion, the County Council will normally amenity, particularly where noise and traffic at a refuse planning permission. However, where a waste management facility would cause a suitable alternative route exists, and the nuisance to residential areas at night times and developer offers to enter into a legally binding weekends. In considering restricting hours of agreement with the County Council (under operation at a waste management facility, the section 106 of the Town and Country Planning County Council will also take into account the Act 1990) to limit the haulage of materials to and efficient and effective operation of the facility from the site via the suitable route, this may be a and collection requirements of the particular means of permitting an otherwise unacceptable wastes being handled. operation to go ahead. Phasing of Operations 7.23 Mud from landfill operations can be spread from the wheels of vehicles leaving sites, 7.27 The disturbance created by landfilling on to the highway, resulting in danger to the and landraising operations, particularly if they travelling public. This can be avoided through are large in scale, can be minimised by careful the metalling of roads in the proximity of the programming of operations, usually in public highway, the installation of wheel conjunction with appropriate landscaping and washing facilities and, when such actions are not screening measures. In some circumstances, the
62 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities proposed disposal area can be zoned and a 7.30 The County Council will adopt a flexible programme of successive working and and carefully considered approach to restoration. restoration agreed. Such a programme may also It is essential that consistent and diligent specify direction and depths of cell working. application of the appropriate techniques are applied to ensure that sites are restored to the Landscaping highest standards. Such techniques will be designed at the planning application stage to 7.28 The careful use of well designed and ensure that operations are both technically and implemented landscaping schemes can financially feasible and respect the character of significantly improve the appearance of existing the landscape in which it is set and, where or planned waste management sites. The use of appropriate, improve the provision of facilities bunds, additional or infill planting and the for the benefit of the general public. Restoration utilising of natural contours can all be used to proposals should be compatible with adopted and achieve this important goal. The County Council emerging elements of the Development Plan. The will encourage the use of these methods and may District Councils are responsible for determining require planning applications for waste any planning application needed to implement management facilities to be accompanied by any subsequent after-use of a reclaimed site after detailed landscaping schemes in order to assist the requirements of the waste permission have the assessment of the visual impact of proposals. been satisfactorily completed and formally It is essential that the design and planting regime discharged. of any scheme respects the particular character of a locality. It is important that all landscaping The Use of Conditions and Planning schemes maintain and enhance the landscape Agreements character - see Cornwall Landscape Assessment, 1994. 7.31 Where planning permission is granted for waste management facilities, the impact upon Restoration of Landfill and amenity and environment can be minimised by Landraising Operations imposing planning conditions or making planning obligations under section 106 of the 7.29 One of the principal aims of planning Town and Country Planning Act 1990, so that control over the landfilling and landraising of acceptable standards can be achieved. waste is to ensure that land taken for waste Notwithstanding the important role of the disposal is restored at the earliest practicable Environment Agency, the County Council plays opportunity and is capable of supporting an a key role in preventing potential environmental acceptable after-use once disposal operations has harm through determining planning applications ceased. Particular regard will be given, in all for waste management facilities and imposing cases, to establishing the broad framework for conditions where appropriate. restoration, the identification at an early stage of an appropriate after-use and after-care conditions, progressive restoration will be required where possible. This will be carried out in close liaison with the District Councils and appropriate agencies including the Environment Agency, English Heritage, the Countryside Agency, Sport England, DEFRA, the Forestry Commission, English Nature, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Cornwall Archaeological Unit.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 63 Chapter 7 - The Control of Waste Management Facilities
Monitoring of Waste Voluntary Management Facilities Environmental Codes
7.32 The County Council monitors waste 7.35 The County Council acknowledges the management sites in Cornwall to ensure that they increasing and positive role being played by operate with a valid planning permission and that industrial organisations and associations in they comply with the conditions specified promoting good environmental practice within therein. For modern planning permissions, the the waste sector through the publication of conditions would include all aspects of working, “Environmental Codes”. Operators are being from preliminary and interim landscaping, to encouraged at least to meet, and seek to exceed, phasing of development, to environmental the requirements of environmental legislation in controls and ultimately, in the case of landfilling force and to publish their own corporate and landraising, to restoration and aftercare. environmental statements. The importance of staff participation in environmental awareness 7.33 The County Council will pursue in all and performance promotion is stressed in this cases an effective monitoring programme and process and this is likely to assist with respond appropriately to complaints from the compliance with planning conditions. Similarly, public. Monitoring and dealing with complaints liaison with local communities is encouraged, helps to highlight where breaches of planning providing a readily available channel for regulations have or may have occurred and communities to express any concerns and normally leads to problems being resolved operators can explain their actions. quickly and effectively. Given the potential for damage to the environment, the County Council 7.36 The County Council welcomes these considers that any breach of planning control in initiatives and supports the establishment of local the context of waste management facilities is liaison committees to facilitate good open to possible enforcement action taking into communication between itself, operators, local account the Government Guidance set out in residents and local councils. PPG18 “Enforcing Planning Control”.
7.34 The range of enforcement actions available has been extended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. Normally, the first approach will be to attempt to rectify any breach through negotiation with the operator or land owner. Where this fails the County Council will usually initiate enforcement action to secure a stop to any unauthorised development and to direct appropriate remedial works.
64 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Chapter 8 - Monitoring and Review of the Plan Chapter 8
Monitoring and Review of the Plan
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 65 Chapter 8 - Monitoring and Review of the Plan
Monitoring and Review
8.1 The implementation of this Plan’s key objectives and policies will be monitored by the County Council and be assessed for effectiveness, completeness and ease of use. The County Council proposes to produce an annual monitoring report that will record progress towards, and the land use implications of, the achievement of the integrated Municipal Waste Management Strategy. Plan implementation will also be closely monitored in respect of new or emerging technologies, regulatory changes and policy approaches in neighbouring authorities. This will be carried out at regular intervals by the County Council and where necessary in liaison with interested parties. This will include the monitoring, on an ongoing basis, of performance against national waste targets in terms of recycling/composting targets and landfill avoidance, long term trends in waste arisings and the development of new facilities and the promotion of alternative and more sustainable modes of transport. It is anticipated that the plan will be reviewed every five years, although changes in legislation, guidance or regulation or progress in the development of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy or on achieving targets on recycling/recovery may precipitate the need for an earlier review.
66 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Plans of Existing Landfill Sites
United Mines
Connon Bridge
Lean Quarry
Areas of Search for new Civic Amenity Facilities
Falmouth
Truro
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 67 68 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 69 70 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN 71 72 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendices Appendices
Appendix 1 Waste Management Policies in the Cornwall Structure Plan 1997
Appendix 2 Definitions of Controlled Wastes
Appendix 3 Code of Practice for the Irrigation of Low Concentrate Leachate in Cornwall
Appendix 4 Inert Waste Landfill Sites and Recycling/ Transfer Sites in Cornwall (at 2002)
Appendix 5 Proposed Improvements to Waste Water Treatment Works in Cornwall (2002 – 2005)
Appendix 6 Glossary of Technical Terms
Appendix 7 Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant
Appendix 8 Air quality Issues of an Energy from Waste Plant
Appendix 9 Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002)
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 1 Appendix 1 - Waste Management Policies in the Cornwall Structure Plan, 1997 Appendix 1 Waste Management Policies in the Cornwall Structure Plan 1997
Policy W1 Policy W3
In considering proposals for waste Proposals for waste disposal will be management facilities, account will be taken considered against the need to ensure that of the need to reduce the levels of waste adequate capacity is available for effective production and to increase the recycling, management, handling, treatment and reuse and recovery of resources, including disposal of waste arising from Cornwall. materials and energy from waste, where compatible with the protection of the environment and amenity of local residents. Policy W4
Restoration of landfill or landraising sites will Policy W2 be required to commence at the earliest opportunity and, where practicable, on a Proposals for waste disposal should have no progressive basis to a self-sustaining after-use. significant adverse effect on the landscape, Proposals for landfilling in former mineral agriculture, nature conservation, historic workings should demonstrate a positive environment or amenity of the area unless enhancement of both the site and the such effects can be mitigated to an acceptable landscape character of the area on completion degree or are out-weighed by the particular of restoration. need for the development.
Where there is impact on Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Nature Reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Scheduled Ancient Monuments or the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land, priority will be given to the national importance of the area or feature concerned.
A 2 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 2 - Definitions of Controlled Wastes Appendix 2 Definitions of Waste Types
The following definitions have been derived Household Waste from the Environmental Protection Act 1990 This means waste from domestic properties, s.75, the UK Waste Strategy 2000, and European caravans, educational buildings and hospitals, Directives (waste definition - 75/442/EEC, and also includes civic amenity waste. This hazardous waste - 91/689/EEC, non-hazardous waste was formerly known as Municipal Waste. waste - all waste not included in 91/689/EEC). Civic Amenity Waste ‘Waste’ includes any substance which This is household waste which is taken to Civic constitutes a scrap material or an effluent or Amenity sites by the general public for disposal. other unwanted surplus substance arising from It often includes furniture, garden refuse and the application of any process, or any substance ‘white goods’ such as cookers, fridges and or article which requires to be disposed of... washing machines. (EPA 1990, s.75 para.2). Commercial Waste Controlled Waste This type of waste is produced by premises used This includes household, industrial and wholly or mainly for the purposes of a trade or commercial waste (s.75 EPA 1990) all of which business or the purposes of sport, recreation or are subject to control by the Environment entertainment (EPA 1990 s.75). It specifically Agency under waste management regulations. excludes household waste, industrial waste, mining & quarrying waste and agricultural Non hazardous Industrial wastes waste. This is waste from premises used for the provision of public services (gas, water, Sewage Sludge electricity, public transport, communications and This is produced at sewage works as a by sewerage services) and factories (within the product of sewage treatment. When spread over meaning of the Factories Act 1961) as defined by agricultural land it is classed as non-hazardous Section 75 Para 6 of the Environmental though it can be made into saleable products Protection Act 1990. such as soil conditioners.
Construction & Demolition Waste Mining & Quarrying Waste These wastes, often referred to as Inert, form a This is generated by mineral extraction and by sub group of Industrial Waste and consist of non the processing of minerals into saleable products, polluting material, i.e. that which does not and consists mainly of sand and stent (china clay decompose or rot. The most common source of waste), tailings (from tin mines), over burden, arising is from road building and maintenance and low grade aggregates. projects. Agricultural Waste Describing this type of waste as ‘inert’ can The majority of this type of waste is organic, sometimes be misleading as small amounts of consisting of manure, slurry, silage effluent and contaminating material, such as paper, wood or crop residues; though farms do produce some paint may be included. Where a site is only inorganic waste such as plastic sheeting, tyres, licensed to handle inert waste then putrescible scrap metal and pesticides. materials need to be separated before disposal.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 3 Appendix 2 - Definitions of Controlled Wastes
Special / Hazardous Waste This is controlled waste which the Secretary of State considers is or may be so dangerous or difficult to treat, keep or dispose of, that special provision is necessary to deal with it. It includes waste which may cause contamination of water supplies or threaten animal life.
[Definition of special waste in the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 as amended by the Waste Management Licensing (Amendments etc.) Regulations 1995]
Clinical Waste This consists of waste which is derived from human or animal tissue, blood, excretions, pharmaceutical products, dressings, syringes and drugs which, unless made safe, may prove hazardous or infectious to any person coming into contact with them.
Scrap Metals This includes “any old metal, and any broken, worn out, defaced or partly manufactured articles made wholly or partly of metal, and any metallic wastes, and also includes old, broken, worn out or defaced tool tips or dies made of any of the materials commonly known as hard metal or of cement or sintered metallic carbides” (Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964, s.9(2)).
This form of waste is comprised largely of ‘end of life’ cars which are either recycled or scrapped at metal recycling facilities, or scrap yards. Smaller quantities of ‘white goods’ and scrap metals are also collected through Civic Amenity sites.
Harbour & Port Waste Marine activities of both a commercial and leisure related nature give rise to relatively small but significant quantities of waste arisings which need proper handling and disposal. Wastes range from what is essentially household waste to harbour dredgings and also include oily wastes, redundant batteries, and general flotsam and jetsam collected from beaches and the water.
A 4 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 3 - Code of Practice for the Irrigation of Low Concentrate Leachate in Cornwall Appendix 3 Code of Practice for the Irrigation of Low Concentrate Leachate in Cornwall
Introduction elsewhere, for a number of years. The technique A3.1 Leachate is the liquid by-product of the is particularly suited to areas where high rainfall decomposition of putrescible waste in landfill can give rise to high volumes of leachate. and landraising sites. As water percolates “Weak” leachate is currently being disposed of through the waste matter it leaches soluble by the irrigation method at three sites controlled organic and inorganic material from the waste. by CES Ltd. in the County, namely Holwood The effective management of leachate is one of Quarry, Tiscott Wood and Connon Bridge. the keys to the success of a landfill operation and Leachate is also still being irrigated to land needs long term management and disposal. The because of the continuing decomposition of treatment needed for leachate is dependant upon putrescible waste, at those closed sites which are its chemical and biological characteristics, the owned and managed by the County Council, anticipated flow rates and the nature of the such as Wheal Prosper, and Treworder. disposal route. A3.5 The leachate at these sites is commonly Low Concentrate Leachate disposed of by the spray irrigation method which A3.2 The leachate produced in existing involves trickling or spraying leachate across a putrescible waste landfill sites in Cornwall tends vegetated surface at a rate where all the liquid is to be of a comparatively weak or dilute nature. able to soak into the soil with the treatment The leachate is weak due to lack of containment occurring through the soil plant matrix. It has measures at a number of the sites, allowing the proved to be a generally satisfactory option in ingress of surface and groundwater as well as the County during the last twenty years. from direct rainfall. The definition of weak leachate is :- The Location of Facilities A3.6 Careful consideration needs to be given “Maximum concentration of Ammoniacal to the precise location of leachate management Nitrogen shall not exceed 300mg/1 (ppm) and facilities and also to the local environment in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of close proximity to the proposed development. 1500mg/1 (ppm).” A3.7 Areas which would be unsuitable for the High Concentrate Leachate location of a leachate irrigation operation A3.3 “Highly concentrated leachate” produced including for example Scheduled Ancient in containment landfill sites is not suitable for Monuments, National Nature Reserves, SSSIs or direct disposal via irrigation because of its Ancient Woodlands. The survey undertaken on chemical and biochemical characteristics which behalf of the County Environmental Services by would inevitably result in severe environmental CTNC and WRC, titled “Final Treatment of pollution. It is, therefore, not part of this Code of Leachate by Irrigation to Land” (1993) indicates Practice. that “weak or dilute” leachate can potentially have a soil enriching effect. Whilst this may be Land Irrigation beneficial on certain types of nutrient deficient A3.4 The irrigation of leachate to grass and ground it would prove extremely damaging on woodland has been practised in Cornwall, and sites demonstrating fragile ecosystems or
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 5 Appendix 3 - Code of Practice for the Irrigation of Low Concentrate Leachate in Cornwall
delicate nutrient levels. Policy guidance is Public Health and Safety contained in Chapters 6 and 7 of the Cornwall A3.11 In considering the suitability of land for Waste Local Plan. waste disposal a wide range of matters must be taken into account including public health. The Planning Applications County Council is determined to protect the A3.8 Historically, planning applications for amenity of residents living in close proximity to leachate irrigation have given rise to a number of waste disposal sites and from related ancillary public objections relating to concerns about development. Particular attention will be given to potential pollution of surface and groundwater, proposals to minimise the potential effects of contamination of private wells, odour, damage to odour and windblown liquids. It will be for vegetation, property devaluation, visual applicants to prove that such concerns can be intrusion, pests and threats to human and animal adequately dealt with. health. Odour and Windblown Liquids A3.9 It is essential, therefore, that applications A3.12 To ensure, through good management for leachate irrigation schemes are accompanied practice, that the potential effects of wind blown by full and appropriate information to enable the liquids and odour are minimised. County Council and its statutory consultees to determine the full range of potential effects of The Water Environment the scheme. A3.13 The application of leachate to land clearly has potentially significant implications Information Requirements for the water environment. While statutory A3.10 To provide full information with control of the water environment is the applications, which should include detailed responsibility of the Environment Agency, the assessments of the following :- consideration of water pollution and land drainage are material considerations in the a) constituents, volumes and flows of determination of applications for waste leachate requiring treatment ; management facilities.
b) availability of alternative methods of Operational Matters disposal; A3.14 The County Council will require best operational practice with regard to the c) methods of minimising leachate management of leachate irrigation systems and production; may consequently require such practice as a condition of any permission. The County d) a hydrogeological and hydrological Council will however avoid the duplication of assessment; conditions which may be required under operational control requirements imposed by the e) an ecological survey; Environment Agency as part of a waste management site licence. f) a meteorological appraisal; Operational Practice g) an archaeological and historical impact A3.15 To ensure best operational management assessment; of leachate irrigation systems.
h) a mitigation strategy.
A 6 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 3 - Code of Practice for the Irrigation of Low Concentrate Leachate in Cornwall
Long Term Impacts A3.16 Each individual site with permission for leachate application will obviously reflect a different and unique combination of features and characteristics resulting in its particular individuality. The County Council wishes to preserve as much of this character as possible and will therefore seek long term monitoring of the activity and its impact.
Monitoring A3.17 Operators should undertake regular long term monitoring of the following aspects of each site:-
a) systematic analysis of chemical and biochemical characteristics of leachate produced on site;
b) ecological impact of the development;
c) impact on water quality;
d) soil conditions and erosion;
e) details of a contingency plan should the spray irrigation system fail to adequately treat the irrigated leachate to an acceptable standard, for whatever reason, or result in unacceptable adverse environmental impact.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 7 Appendix 4 - Inert Waste Landfill Sites and Recycling/ Transfer Sites in Cornwall (at 2002) Appendix 4 Licensed Inert Waste Landfill Sites and Recycling/ Transfer Sites in Cornwall at 2002* (cross reference to Location Maps 3.2 and 3.3)
Site Name and Site Site District Address Operator Type April Cottage, New Road, T Julian & Son Transfer Station Carrick Summercourt Badgers Cross, Castle Gate, Gulval, M Leah Transfer Station Penwith Penzance Bangor Waste Transfer Station, CES Ltd Transfer Station North Cornwall Launceston Blue Haven, St Clether, Launceston RN Baker Inert Landfill North Cornwall Bude Skip Hire, Dinscott Farm, Orchard Cottage Transfer Station North Cornwall Stibb, Kilkhampton, Bude Bu-Mar Skip Hire, New Portreath Skip Yard, Transfer Station Kerrier Road, Gilbert’s Coombe, Redruth New Portreath Road Carthew, Wendron, Helston PH Care Inert Landfill Kerrier Chenoweth’s Garage, Aggregates & Transfer Station Carrick Ruan High Lanes, Truro Minerals Ltd Chypraze Farm, Trefullock, J Kyle-Milward Inert Landfill and Carrick Summercourt Transfer Station Connon Bridge, East Taphouse, CES Ltd Inert Landfill Caradon Liskeard (in addition to co-disposal landfill) DA Vercoe Skip Hire, St Stephen, DA Vercoe Transfer Station Restormel St Austell DRS Demolition National, Domellick DR Shrigley Transfer Station Restormel Manor, St Dennis, St Austell Dudnance Lane Recycling Centre, CES Ltd Transfer Station Kerrier Pool, Redruth Glebe Quarry, Trezaise Road, Glebe Quarry Inert Landfill Restormel Roche, St Austell Landfill Ltd Gothers, St Dennis, St Austell HH Stocks Inert Landfill Restormel Herniss Farm, Longdowns, Penryn LI Winn & Son Inert Landfill and Kerrier Transfer Station Holwood Quarry, Blunts, Landrake, CES Ltd Inert Landfill Caradon Saltash Lean Quarry, Horningtops, Liskeard Viridor Ltd Inert Landfill and Caradon Transfer (in addition to co-disposal landfill) Looe Skip Hire, Oaklands Business DJ Peat Transfer Station Caradon Park, Morval, Looe Lower Bostraze, Newbridge, Penzance TJ Nankervis Transfer Station Penwith
A 8 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 4 - Inert Waste Landfill Sites and Recycling/ Transfer Sites in Cornwall (at 2002)
Site Name and Site Site District Address Operator Type Newham Depot, Lighterage Hill, Truro Carrick District Council Transfer Station Carrick Parc-an-Chy, Scorrier, Redruth RA, J and AW Douce Transfer Station Kerrier Ponsharden Depot, North Parade, Carrick District Council Transfer Station Carrick Falmouth Roodscroft, Hatt, Saltash DJ Venables Inert Landfill and Caradon Transfer Station Supreme Skips, Greenhill Works, R Chapman Transfer Station Caradon Delaware Road, Gunnislake Tamar View (Eales Farm), Carkeel, Downderry Inert Landfill Caradon Saltash Construction Ltd Tiscott Wood Depot, Off A39, Bude Cormac Highways Inert Landfill North Cornwall Tregongeeves (Cormac), St Mewan, Cormac Highways Inert Landfill and Restormel St Austell Transfer Station Trendale, Trendale Industrial Park, Borough of Restormel Transfer Station Restormel Higher Trezaise, Roche. St Austell Tresevern Croft, Stithians, Truro GG Carlyon Inert Landfill Kerrier Trevenson Road, Newquay Borough of Restormel Transfer Station Restormel (in addition to CA site) United Mines, St Day, Redruth CES Ltd Inert Landfill Kerrier (in addition to co-disposal landfill) Valley View, Bissom, Penryn N Ferris Transfer Station Carrick West Chyverton Mine, Zelah, Truro E Hooper & Sons Inert Landfill Carrick
* Please refer to the Environment Agency Register of Licensed Sites for a definitive listing of sites.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 9 Appendix 5 - Proposed Improvements to Waste Water Treatment Works in Cornwall (2002 – 2005) Appendix 5 Proposed Improvements to Waste Water Treatment Works in Cornwall 2002-2005 (cross reference to Location Map 5.1)
Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) Anticipated Operational Target Date*
Bodmin Operational Area Wadebridge August 2004 Trecerus August 2004 St Cleer August 2004 Lewannick March 2005 Bodinnick December 2005 Golant December 2005 Boscastle December 2005 Bossiney December 2005 Tintagel December 2005
Truro Operational Area Portscatho March 2003/04
Lizard Operational Area Coverack March 2003/04 Church Cove March 2003/04 Mullion March 2003/04 St Just (Cot Valley) December 2004 Boscaswell/Pendeen March 2005 Porthcurno March 2005 Botallack March 2005 Porthgwarra March 2005 Sennen March 2005
Other Operational Areas Perranporth March 2005
* These dates have been scheduled by South West Water as part of the National Environmental Programme (NEP). Actual completion dates may be subject to change and it is advisable to contact South West Water for further details
A 10 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 6 - Glossary of Technical Terms Appendix 6 Glossary of Technical Terms
Area of Search treatment to landfilling so as to reduce the A phrase used to describe a specific allocation of pollutant potential of the material. land where it can be prudently shown that a proposed development may be most optimally Decomposition sited. This involves the breakdown of matter into simpler chemical forms. It can be achieved Civic Amenity Site through physical, chemical or micro-biological A facility where the public can go to dispose of processes. bulky items like furniture, ‘white goods’ and garden refuse, and also to recycle various Directive materials such as paper, glass and metal. A framework law decided by the European Community Council of Members listing broad Anaerobic Digestion principles that have to be interpreted and This system for dealing with organic wastes is a implemented by each member state. complex biochemical process, which takes place in the absence of oxygen, producing a mixture of Best Practicable Environmental Option carbon dioxide and methane gas and a (BPEO) reasonably stable granular material. This process The BPEO is the outcome of a systematic can be used to generate energy (electricity and/or procedure for establishing the option (for waste heat). management) that provides the most benefits or least damage to the environment as a whole, at Best Available Techniques Not Entailing acceptable cost, in the long as well as short term. Excessive Cost (BATNEEC) BATNEEC (a term used in the Environmental Effluent Protection Act 1990) is a phrase which, along This is a liquid discharge to the external with BPEO, encompasses the philosophy of environment as the result of a particular process. sustainable waste management. ‘Best’ means that which is the least environmentally and socially Energy from Waste (EfW) damaging, ‘available’ relates to that which can A generic phrase that covers a range of be obtained for use, and ‘techniques’ refers to the technologies which generate energy (heat and level of technology which has been developed in electricity) from waste. conjunction with the parameters of ‘not entailing excessive cost’. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) The process whereby environmental impacts of Commercial Waste development are identified and assessed and Waste arising from wholesalers, catering forms part of the overall decision-making establishments, shops and offices. process. Where such an assessment is required, an applicant for planning permission must Composting submit to the planning authority an This is a process which accelerates the decay of ‘Environmental Statement’; a document organic materials, through aerobic digestion, to providing information that enables an assessment produce fertiliser. It can also be used as a pre- to be made as to the likely impact of the proposed development on the environment;
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 11 Appendix 6 - Glossary of Technical Terms
where significant adverse effects are identified, traces of other gases present. the statement must contain a description of the remedial measures which the developer Landfill Tax proposes. A levy imposed by central Government on waste disposal at landfill sites. The levy is collected on Fill behalf of central government by landfill Usually low grade aggregate used in restoration operators on disposers of waste at the point to alter the profile of land. where the waste going directly to landfill is weighed i.e. at weighbridges. Gasification This is the process by which heat is applied, in a Landfilling partially oxidised environment, to solid or liquid The disposal of waste into void spaces in the wastes. The resultant product is a gas (typically a land often left as the result of mineral extraction. mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane, water, nitrogen and trace Landraising quantities of higher hydrocarbons) whose The deposit of waste onto the land thereby calorific value is lower than that for pyrolysis. raising its level. This ‘producer gas’, after particulate matter has been removed, can be used as a fuel for boilers, Mass Burn Incineration internal combustion engines and gas turbines. The process by which waste is reduced by burning without separation into its different Groundwater constituent elements, save for the removal of This is water which permeates the fissures and bulky items such as ‘white goods’. pores in rock and soil below the land surface. Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Industrial Waste A waste management facility at which elements Waste arising from factories and industrial of waste are separated into their specific plants. categories for the purposes of recycling.
Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Municipal Waste (IPPC) Includes all waste under the control of local Derives from the IPPC Directive which was authorities or agents acting on their behalf. implemented in the UK from October 1999. The Examples of municipal waste includes all IPPC process is designed to prevent or, where household waste, street litter, waste delivered to that is not possible, to reduce pollution from a council recycling points, municipal parks and range of industrial and other installations, garden wastes, council office waste, Civic including some waste management facilities by Amenity site waste, and some commercial waste means of integrated permitting process as based from shops and smaller trading estates where on the application of best available techniques. local authority waste collection agreements are in place. Integrated Waste Management A strategy for managing waste in an Overburden environmentally sound way so as to promote The soil and waste which lies over the target techniques at the top of the waste hierarchy. mineral in a quarry.
Landfill Gas Permitted Void-space Created by the decomposition of putrescible The remaining space in a landfill site with wastes in landfill sites. The gas is predominantly planning permission for tipping. methane (65%) and carbon dioxide (35%) with
A 12 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 6 - Glossary of Technical Terms
Planning Permission Recycling An authorisation to carry out most forms of Collecting and processing specific types of waste development involving not only physical works such that they can be reformed into new but also changes in land use. Development is products. controlled in England and Wales by the District Council, unitary authority, County Council or the Recycling Credits First Secretary of State. This is a system of financial incentives, introduced by Central Government, to encourage Leachate recycling. The Waste Disposal Authority is Liquid seepage which is contaminated by the obliged to pay the Waste Collection Authority to decomposition of putrescible waste in landfill separate, for the purpose of recycling, household sites. waste which would otherwise be disposed of by incineration or landfilling. Pre-treatment The treatment of waste before landfilling in Refuse Derived Fuel order to reduce its volume or polluting potential. Fuel, often in pellet form, which is produced from the combustible elements of household and Primary Route commercial waste, and used in industrial boilers Trunk roads and County roads forming part of to produce energy. the Primary Route Network which cater for through and long distance traffic. Residue The resultant product after waste has undergone Progressive Restoration particular treatment processes. The phased restoration of a site, which allows tipping to continue on another part of the site. Restoration The process of returning a site to a beneficial Proximity Principle after-use once disposal has ceased. The minimisation of transport distances, and therefore environmental and economic cost, by Re-Use situating waste management facilities near to the This is the process of re-using potential ‘waste’ source of waste arising. in a repeat function of its primary purpose, for example the collection and re-use of milk bottles. Putrescible Waste Waste which readily decomposes. Recovery Recovery energy, materials or other products Pyrolysis from waste This involves the combustion of waste, at temperatures in the range of 400-800C, in the Section 106 Agreements (Planning absence of oxygen. The lack of oxygen means Obligations) that there are fewer harmful gaseous oxides, such A Section 106 obligation may be unconditional as carbon monoxide, produced. The result of the or subject to conditions and can restrict a process is the production of liquid, gas or char, development or use of land in any specified way; whose after-use depends on the type of waste require specified operations or activities to be incinerated. The most common usage however is carried out in, on, over or under the land; require as a fuel for energy production, the gas having a the land to be used in a specified way/ and/or calorific value approximately half that of natural require a sum or sums of money to be paid to the gas. authority on a specified date or dates or periodically.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 13 Appendix 6 - Glossary of Technical Terms
Sludge Waste Hierarchy A mixture of solid and liquid waste. Hierarchical ranking of waste management options based on their relative environmental Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) benefits; reduction, re-use; recovery; disposal. A statutorily protected site due to its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features being of Waste Management Facility national importance. This is a general term for a place where waste is stored, treated, processed, collected, separated, Special Protection Area (SPA) incinerated, recycled or finally disposed of. A site for international conservation which has been classified under the 1979 EC Council Waste Planning Authority Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. This is the authority responsible for Such sites afford the highest level of European implementing the provisions of the Town and protection for certain rare species and migratory Country Planning Act 1990 in respect of waste species of wild bird. planning. The County Council fulfils this role in Cornwall. Special Area of Conservation (SAC) A site for international conservation which has Waste Transfer Station been designated under the 1992 EC Council A site used for transferring waste from small Directive on the Conservation of Natural receptacles into larger ones before sending it for Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. Such sites final disposal. Waste is not disposed of at waste afford the highest level of European protection to transfer stations. maintain or restore natural habitats and wild species at a favourable conservation status.
Structure Plan The strategic part of the development plan produced by the County Council, covering the whole of the County.
Sustainable Development The concept of meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Void-space The capacity of a landfill site.
Waste Collection Authority The District Councils are the waste collection authority and under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are required to produce recycling plans.
Waste Disposal Authority The authority responsible for disposing of waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and this role is fulfilled by the County Council in Cornwall.
A 14 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 7 - Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant. Appendix 7 Methodology For Assessing The Visual Impact Of An Energy From Waste Plant Introduction
A7.1 This Appendix is split into three parts. The first part outlines a good practice approach to assessing landscape and visual impacts, based on the standard UK guidance. The second part presents an outline structure for a report addressing landscape and visual impacts with suggested content and notes. The third part provides some advice for the siting and design of EfW facilities to minimise visual impact.
Part 1: Approach to the Assessment of Landscape and Visual Impacts A7.2 The assessment should be carried out in accordance with the approach described in the Landscape Institute Guidelines(1), and consider the landscape and visual impacts resulting from the construction and operation of the proposed EfW plant. Two types of impact are recognised:
! impacts on the physical structure and character of the landscape; and
! impacts on the visual amenity of viewers.
A7.3 The area of study should correspond broadly to the wider zone of visual influence (ZVI) of the tallest part of the scheme, in this case the stack. Landscape and visual receptors outside this zone will be unaffected by the development. The context of the development is also important. For example, if there are already a number of tall stacks in the area, i.e. if the site is in an industrial area, the sensitivity of the landscape is likely to be lower and the impact significance will be lower than in a purely rural landscape.
A7.4 Landscape and visual impact may potentially result from the following:
! construction of the proposed EfW plant, including construction plant and ephemeral features such as lighting or fugitive dust;
! operation of the EfW plant, including permanent loss of existing landscape features, permanent structures, visible emissions and lighting.
Definitions of Impact Magnitude and Sensitivity
A7.5 Impacts are described according to their severity as being substantial, moderate, slight or no significant impact. The severity of impact depends on both the magnitude of change (a function of the nature, scale and visibility of the EfW plant) and the sensitivity of the landscape or viewer to the change. Definitions of magnitude and sensitivity are presented in Table A7.1 below.
1 Institute of Environmental Assessment and Landscape Institute, 1994, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment E & FN Spon CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 15 Appendix 7 - Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant.
Table 7.1: Definitions of Impact Magnitude and Receptor Sensitivity
Magnitude Sensitivity
Low Landscape Almost imperceptible change A landscape which is not in components or character of valued for its scenic quality the landscape. and tolerant of substantial change.
Visual Few viewers affected by minor A viewer with passing or changes in view. momentary interest in its surroundings, e.g. motorists.
Moderate Landscape Moderate change in landscape A moderately valued landscape, components and character. perhaps a locally important landscape, tolerant of some change.
Visual Many viewers affected by A viewer with moderate moderate changes in views. interest in their environment, e.g. users of recreational facilities.
High Landscape An obvious change in A landscape of particularly landscape components over distinctive character or an extensive area. nationally valued for its scenic quality.
Visual Many viewers affected by A viewer with proprietary obvious changes in view. interest and prolonged viewing opportunities, e.g. residents.
A 16 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 7 - Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant.
Definition of Levels of Significance
A7.6 Levels of impact significance may be used to standardise results of the assessment. Definitions of the levels of impact significance may be described as follows:-
Table 7.2: Evaluation of Level of Significance for Landscape Impacts
Loss of existing With High Landscape With Moderate With Low Landscape beneficial components Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Sensitivity or introduction of new inappropriate components
Dominant landscape Substantial Moderate Slight component (adverse or beneficial)
Clearly discernible Moderate Slight No significant impact landscape component (adverse or beneficial)
Small or negligible Slight No significant impact No significant impact landscape component (adverse or beneficial)
A7.7 Impacts on visual amenity are clearly distinguished from, although closely linked to, impacts on landscape character. Visual impacts, as noted earlier, relate to the quality of what people see from places they frequent.
Table 7.3: Evaluation of Level of Significance for Impacts on Visual Amenity
Magnitude of Visual With High Viewer With Moderate Viewer With Low Viewer Change Sensitivity Sensitivity Sensitivity
Dominant (adverse or Substantial Moderate Slight beneficial)
Discernible (adverse or Moderate Slight No significant impact beneficial)
Small or negligible Slight No significant impact No significant impact (adverse or beneficial)
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 17 Appendix 7 - Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant.
A7.8 In assigning levels of significance, the evaluation should take account of the number of viewers affected. If many viewers will be affected the level of significance would usually be higher than otherwise expected; if few viewers are affected it would be lower.
Part 2: Suggested contents for report
Introduction A7.9 This section should introduce the project and set out the methodology used in assessing impacts.
Project Description and Sources of Impact A7.10 This section should describe the EfW plant highlighting those components that are likely to result in landscape or visual impacts. The individual project components and their sizes should be presented in this section. Construction and operational activities should be described.
Baseline Landscape Description A7.11 This section should describe the baseline landscape in terms of its topography, geology, land use and land cover. Public footpaths and local recreational areas, whether formal or informal, should also be noted.
Statutory Policies A7.12 This part of the report would outline the statutory policies relevant to the site including national, regional and local landscape designations. Does the site fall inside or close to an AONB or AGLV? Is the site noted as an industrial or key development site in the development plan ?
Landscape Classification and Sensitivity A7.13 This section presents the landscape classification. This is a means of sub-dividing the landscape into different areas with distinctive landscape character. Landscape character areas differ in their range of landscape features and the patterns these create, and consequently in their ability to accommodate different types of development. Some areas may be particularly sensitive to development and others more resilient. Landscape sensitivity will have a bearing on the level of significance of the impact, as seen in Table A7.2.
A7.14 There may already be a landscape character assessment available for the area in question. These existing classifications should be used where possible. Landscape character assessments may also contain advice on the siting and design of new development, which should be taken into account in the assessment. Some landscapes may present opportunities for landscape improvement, which will help with the eventual integration of the development with the surrounding landscape. The easiest way to illustrate landscape character areas is by mapped areas on an O.S. map base with accompanying photos and a table that summarises key landscape characteristics and landscape sensitivity.
Key Visual Receptors and their Sensitivity A7.15 This section should highlight groups who may be sensitive to visual impact. Residential receptors are generally considered to be the most sensitive receptor group owing to their proprietary interest and their prolonged exposure. Recreational receptors are also considered to be sensitive. Users of trains or roads are of moderate sensitivity as they pass through the area. The least sensitive groups are those already affected by a similar type of visual impact, for example workers at adjacent industrial premises.
A 18 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 7 - Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant.
Assessment of Landscape Impacts A7.16 Construction impacts may arise from construction plant and activities including cranes and piling rigs. Permanent and operational impacts arise from permanent loss of landscape resources, introduction of new features, visible emissions and lighting.
A7.17 Table A7.2 may be used to determine levels of significance for landscape impacts. These should be based on combinations of landscape sensitivity (the nature and value of any landscape resources likely to be affected and the character of the landscape and its ability to accommodate change) and impact magnitude (extent of loss of beneficial components or addition of inappropriate components). Results should be recorded in a table.
Assessment of Impacts on Visual Amenity The Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) A7.18 The first task in assessing impacts on visual amenity is to delineate the zone of visual influence of the proposed EfW plant. This may be calculated either by desk work, assessing contours and heights of intervening land against the predicted height of the proposed plant, or digitally using GIS. The results may then be verified in the field by visiting a number of key viewpoints to determine the limits of the zone of visual influence. Alternatively a balloon may be flown at the height of the tallest part of the plant and photographed from viewpoints in the field. The field visit allows screening effects of existing vegetation and development to be taken into account. The extent of visibility of the plant should be presented in map form.
A7.19 Within the visual envelope there may be only partial views of the plant. Many receptors within the ZVI will be screened to some extent by intervening vegetation or built elements and may only have views of the chimney. The extent of visibility of the plant will relate to the magnitude of change experienced.
Assessment of Impacts A7.20 Table A7.3 may be used to determine levels of significance for visual impacts based on combinations of receptor sensitivity (proprietary interest in views and number of viewers affected) and impact magnitude (extent of obstruction or intrusion into views and distance of the viewer from the development). Results should be recorded in a table.
A7.21 Photomontages may be used to illustrate the development from a number of typical viewpoints. These should represent views from a range of different locations and receptor groups and should be agreed with the Planning Authority. This should include an illustration of the view from the nearest residents (regarded as the most sensitive receptor group) as well as public viewpoints.
Mitigation of Landscape and Visual Impact A7.22 The final section of the report should present proposed mitigation measures in response to the impacts identified. Attention should be paid to architectural design and material finishes as well as presentation of an overall landscape strategy.
A7.23 Mitigation is more than merely screening views; opportunities for environmental enhancement may contribute to derelict land reclamation and encourage regeneration. Both on and off site planting should be considered. More ideas on mitigation are presented in Part 3 below.
Residual Impacts A7.24 This final section should present the residual impacts after mitigation.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 19 Appendix 7 - Methodology for Assessing the Visual Impact of an Energy from Waste Plant.
Part 3: guidance for minimising landscape and visual impacts
A7.25 Mitigation should not be an afterthought or something that is applied to soften a poor design. It should start, at the inception of a project, with the analysis of environmental opportunities and constraints. At every stage of landscape and visual impact assessment there should be feedback to project planning and design to achieve optimum benefit for landscape character and visual amenity.
A7.26 Enhancement proposals should be based on a robust assessment of landscape character and quality.
A7.27 Mitigation of landscape and visual impact may take several approaches. The proposal should state clearly which approach is being taken and the reasons for this approach. The three main approaches are outlined below:
! Create a landmark building using innovative design and use of materials (e.g. the proposed Slyfield and Colnbrook EfW plants).
! Screen the industrial buildings by reducing ground levels and introducing earth mounding and planting (e.g. Clockhouse Brickworks and Copyhold Works, Surrey).
! Blend the buildings with the surrounding landscape by using local materials and colours as well as paying attention to the scale and massing of the buildings (e.g. Colnbrook).
A7.28 The approach taken depends upon location and landscape context (landscape character). By assessing the baseline landscape it is possible to decide on the best approach. The `landmark building’ approach may only be suitable in locations where character is not too rural and the scale of the building fits the scale of the landscape. In rural locations one of the latter two approaches, or a combination of both, may be more appropriate.
A7.29 Some basic principles in mitigating landscape and visual impacts are:
! Light colours should be used on elevated structures, such as the chimneys, to reduce their prominence and hence visual impact.
! Darker colours are likely to be more appropriate on ground level buildings to blend them into the surrounding countryside. Greens should be used with care as they can often clash with surrounding greenery and seasonal variation in backdrop colours should be taken into account.
! Dividing large surfaces into smaller units of colour and texture may reduce the apparent size of large building masses.
! Local materials should be used where possible, particularly in rural locations.
! Even industrial buildings may reflect local vernacular form.
! Reductions in site levels may reduce the apparent height of buildings and allow more successful screening of ground level elements.
A 20 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 8 - Air quality Issues of an Energy from Waste Plant Appendix 8 Air Quality Issues of an Energy from Waste Plant Introduction Role of the Environment Agency
A8.1 This Appendix sets out a broad A8.6 In agreeing the requirements for framework for the air quality information which background information and evaluating planning should accompany any planning applications for applications for an EfW plant, the utmost regard Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities in Cornwall. will be given to the advice and views of the Environment Agency and the District Councils A8.2 The potential emissions from a proposed as the statutory consultees on such matters. It is EfW plant can and will be one of the key essential that potential applicants enter into concerns for local residents during the planning dialogue with the relevant pollution control application process. It is therefore essential that authority at the first possible opportunity to applicants should provide comprehensive discuss air quality and pollution prevention information regarding air quality issues at the issues. planning application stage. A8.7 The advice included in this Appendix A8.3 This Appendix applies to any does not apply to the information requirements applications for an EfW facility regardless of of the process of giving regulatory consent for what waste stream(s) are proposed to be dealt any pollution control licence that must be with. It also applies to all EfW techniques obtained by a potential EfW plant operator. Such including for example mass burn incineration, consenting procedures are the responsibility of gasification and pyrolysis. either the District Councils or the Environment Agency under the provisions of the Need for Dialogue Environmental Protection Act, 1990.
A8.4 It is essential that potential EfW plant A8.8 It is considered best practice that any developers open detailed discussions with the planning application for an EfW plant is “parallel County Council at the earliest opportunity in tracked” with the application for the relevant order to agree the range of information to pollution control licence whether from a District accompany any subsequent application. If an Council or from the Environment Agency. environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required, or where a voluntary assessment is Potential Emissions offered, formal procedures will need to be commenced to agree the scope and format of A8.9 EfW plants give rise to a complex range such a document. of emissions to the atmosphere. It is imperative that these emissions are fully quantified and set A8.5 The County Council will consult all out in support of planning applications. relevant consultees regarding the requirements for air quality information on commencement of this process of dialogue with developers. In certain circumstances it may engage specialist air quality consultants to advise it.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 21 Appendix 8 - Air quality Issues of an Energy from Waste Plant
A8.10 Comprehensive information should be comply with expected world-wide best practice. provided by the applicants in regard to all The proposed environmental modelling potential emissions to the air from an EfW plant framework should, as a minimum, include and will include:- monitoring of :-
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) a) individual emissions on a continuous and Hydrochloric acid (HCl) annual basis; Sulpher Dioxide (SOx) Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) b) total emissions on a continuous and Dioxins annual basis; Particulates Bioaerosols c) community health; Odour Heavy Metals d) ecological indicators; Noise e) soil samples; A8.11 It will be necessary for potential applicants to discuss with both the Environment f) agricultural vegetation and produce. Agency and the County Council the above list at the earliest potential opportunity. The list is not A8.15 It is essential that a comprehensive definitive and may change over time. monitoring and reporting regime is agreed by the operator, planning authority and the relevant Background Monitoring pollution control authority and put in place at the outset of a scheme. Indeed it could be reasonably A8.12 The County Council will, in close liaison be expected to be required as part of any with the Environment Agency, English Nature subsequent consent and is an example of good etc, set out detailed requirements for a range of practice already practised at other existing waste background air quality monitoring to be management sites in Cornwall. The monitoring undertaken and provided in support of a planning scheme should also be compatible with the application after the preliminary discussions with baseline work undertaken prior to the submission the developer. This will include analysis of of the planning application. Such monitoring will historical records and on-site and off-site be required throughout the life of a facility and monitoring. probably for a period after its permanent closure.
A8.13 This air quality data will be used to Public Availability assess the suitability of the proposed site in the first instance. It will also serve the purpose of A8.16 Applicants should also set out their establishing baseline information from which proposals for dissemination of this information any long term changes can be observed both to the planning and pollution control consequent to the commissioning of the plant. authorities and to the general public. Applicants will be obliged to provide monitoring Long Term Operational Monitoring information to the public in the form of continuous current actual readings for all A8.14 Applicants should seek to agree with the regulated emissions utilising equipment relevant authorities a detailed methodology for identified as representing Best Avilable the long term operational monitoring of Technology by the Environment Agency. This emissions from an EfW plant should a information should be made available via a live conditional consent be subsequently granted. The link to the Internet, as well as via the press and monitoring and control methodology must annual reports.
A 22 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 8 - Air quality Issues of an Energy from Waste Plant
A8.17 The provision of this information in an open and easily accessible manner is a minimum requirement. It will ensure that clear and early warning of potential environmental impacts can be given but will also assist in informing local residents and other interested parties.
Local Liaison
A8.18 Applicants will be advised to undertake a pro-active and extensive programme of liaison with local residents, from an early stage in the evaluation of the proposals. This could, for example, include regular meetings with Parish Councils, periodic Open Days, public meetings etc in addition to the open availability of monitoring information indicated above. A local liaison strategy will therefore be required in support of any planning application.
Conclusion
A8.19 It can be reasonably anticipated that a principal concern of local residents during consultation on a planning application for an EfW plant will be in relation to the potential impacts of emissions from such a plant. While air quality and pollution issues are the responsibility of the relevant pollution control authorities, it is essential that comprehensive information is available during the evaluation and determination of the planning application.
A8.20 It is therefore essential that the potential developers of such a plant enter into early dialogue with the County Council and the pollution control authorities in order to establish a satisfactory monitoring framework and information strategy in order that these concerns can start to be addressed.
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 23 Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002) Appendix 9 Technical Paper on current and predicted trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall Introduction Municipal Solid Waste and Commercial and Industrial Waste A9.1 This Technical Paper seeks to illustrate arisings the statistical basis to current and predicted trends in waste arisings and disposals in A9.4 The nature of both the MSW and C&I Cornwall during the Plan period i.e. to 2012. waste stream is similar in composition, have This Paper should be used to supplement the common disposal routes and are data contained within Chapter 3, and should treated/processed at similar facilities. assist in explaining the strategy for managing the disposal routes of various waste streams in the Municipal Solid Waste County. A9.5 Municipal Solid Waste is the collective term for waste which is collected by the Waste A9.2 The Paper will consider the following Collection Authorities (WCAs), and managed by waste streams and will be split into three main the County Council’s Waste Disposal Authority sections: (WDA)3. This waste stream is mostly comprised of household waste (‘black bag’ waste) collected ! Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), and by the traditional kerbside collection services run Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Waste by the WCAs. These kerbside services also arisings; collect waste from some commercial and industrial premises, which is known as co- ! Construction & Demolition (C&D) collected or trade waste and is also included Waste arisings; within the MSW stream. The WDA also manage the disposal of waste which is deposited at the ! Other Waste Streams. County’s Civic Amenity sites which is also included in MSW. An element of the MSW A9.3 The sources of the statistical information stream is recovered and recycled by the WDA, used in this Paper has been derived from verified WCA or Third Parties, and includes paper/card data arising from either discussions with the glass, plastics and ferrous metal. This element is Environment Agency (including detailed also included in the total MSW stream. Other references to the Strategic Waste Management waste streams such as industrial, sewage or Assessment (SWMA) 2000), or from verified construction waste is collected under private data contained within Cornwall County Council sector contracts and is not considered MSW. papers. Where appropriate these sources will be referenced in this Paper. Unless specified to the contrary the waste types in this Paper will refer to the solid element of the waste stream.
3 The definition of household waste is set out within Best Value Performance Indicator 82, which is included within the Local Government (Best Value) Performance Indicators and Performance Standards 2001, and is included within Appendix 2 of this Plan. A 24 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002) A9.6 During the year 2000/01 total solid MSW arisings were approximately 272,630 tonnes, of which 24,069 were recycled/recovered. Figure 1 below shows the quantity and proportion of MSW arisings from 1996 to 2001:
Latest figures for the period April – December 2001 are shown in Figure 1A below:
Fig 1a: MSW Arisings April - December 2001
A9.7 Approximately 250,000 tonnes of MSW is currently disposed of at United Mines and Connon Bridge landfill sites. Lean Quarry is permitted to receive MSW although at the time of compiling this Paper is not yet operational. Further detail on the disposal routes of MSW is set out in this Appendix at paragraph A9.27.
Forecasts for the MSW stream A9.8 All forecasts have been taken up to the end of 2012 which is 10 years following the anticipated date of adoption of the Plan (in accordance with advice contained within PPG12). In forecasting future levels of arisings, recovery and disposals the following assumptions have been made:
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 25 Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002) ! Arisings of MSW will increase at 3% weight). Fly-ash is considered special per annum until 2004, at 2% to 2009, waste and will need to be sent out of the at 1% to 2011 and then at a static rate County for disposal. It is anticipated that thereafter. This assumption has been bottom ash will be utilised in the based upon the following factors: production of aggregate.
! Household numbers will increase at A9.9 It should be noted that these factors around 1% per annum (the Cornwall might vary during the Plan period, which may Structure Plan, 1997 has projected an influence the precise profile of the MSW stream. increase of 45,000 extra households Future Reviews of the Plan will need to be based during the Plan period); on regular monitoring of the MSW stream, however the Audit Commission has made it ! Increases in waste production per clear that the Best Value targets are household will reduce from 4% per mandatory and will require compliance by the annum to 1% per annum between 2000 specified dates. and 2005 and then remain at 1% (partially influenced by the Packaging A9.10 It should also be noted that some of the Directive which, whilst not directed at factors which may influence this waste stream lie the consumer, should result in a outside the scope and control of this Plan. In reduction factor in waste arisings). particular waste collection methods are currently District/Borough Council responsibilities and ! The effectiveness of home composting other influences such as education and awareness (although there is currently no factual campaigns will be considered in the emerging evidence of a sustained reduction in the Municipal Waste Management Strategy MSW stream from this activity, it may (MWMS). The MWMS will look at the political, well be that home composting has been a financial and practical implementations of recognised form of recycling for some delivering waste management techniques which years). will satisfy legislative requirements.
! That Best Value targets for Commercial and Industrial Waste recycling/composting (i.e. 12% by A9.11 The Environment Agency have derived 2003/4 and 18% by 2005/6) and 30% by figures for the amount and composition of C&I 2010 (set out in Waste Strategy 2000) waste in the County (and the south west will be met; generally) using sample surveys of the private sector. Following these surveys it can be deduced ! That an Energy from Waste plant will that this waste stream consists of waste which come on stream in 2007 and be able to includes paper, card, food waste, metals and recover 50% of the MSW waste stream scrap equipment but excludes construction and over and above the projected levels of demolition waste (this element of the waste recycling/composting, and around 20,000 stream is considered in paragraph A9.21 below). tonnes of non-inert industrial and commercial waste; A9.12 It is extremely difficult to gather precise statistical data on the amount of C&I waste ! That residue from an Energy from Waste produced in Cornwall, as by definition this waste plant will amount to 25% by weight of stream is produced by the private sector and feedstock. This residue will be disposed of under private sector contracts. For comprised of fly-ash (5% by weight of example some paper and card waste (which it is feedstock) and bottom ash (20% by estimated nationally accounts for approximately
A 26 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002) 10% of this waste stream4) is produced and A9.15 The SWMA also suggests that around exported out of the County for processing at 25% of the C&I waste/recyclable materials central distribution facilities by some sectors of produced in 1998/99 was exported out of the commerce e.g. supermarkets5. The lack of south west for reprocessing at facilities which knowledge on the extent of such practises creates are not available in the south west. The SWMA difficulties in estimating the size of this waste indicates that 4% of Devon/Plymouth’s C&I stream. waste is imported into Cornwall, and a similar proportion is exported to Devon/Plymouth from A9.13 In 1998/99 the Environment Agency’s Cornwall6. SWMA recorded that 443,000 tonnes of this waste stream was produced in Cornwall (SWMA Forecasts for the C & I waste stream 2000, Table 2.4, page 15). A simplified A9.16 Commercial and industrial waste arisings breakdown of this waste stream shows that are influenced by economic growth, the mix of approximately 150,000 tonnes was disposed to businesses and waste minimisation initiatives landfill in Cornwall, 125,000 tonnes was (promoted and implemented by the private sector recycled, and the remainder was treated or as this has the potential to save business money unrecorded. The Environment Agency has as well as produce environmental benefits). All confirmed that a proportion of this waste stream of these influences are very difficult to predict is treated at waste water treatment works and oil with any degree of certainty, and as indicated in refining facilities in the County, and also paragraph 2.1 the WCAs and WDA are only disposed at sites exempt from waste management responsible for handling a small proportion of licensing. As this element of the waste stream is this waste. However it is possible to make the excluded from the Plan’s strategy (although the following assumptions: strategy for Waste Water Treatment Works is set out in the Plan), the best estimate for the current ! Economic growth in Cornwall (which is size of the solid element of this waste stream expected to be further influenced by the (excluding treated waste) is 275,000 tonnes Cornwall & Scilly Objective One arising per annum. Programme 2000-20067) may influence the nature of waste arisings from A9.14 A breakdown of this waste stream is commerce and industry; shown in Figure 2 below:
Fig 2: Commercial & Industrial Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall 1998/99
4 Source: The UK Waste Strategy 2000 5 A small sample survey of six major supermarkets in Cornwall revealed that the majority of paper and card waste arisings from their stores is transported out of the County for reprocessing using their own lorries. 6 The Environment Agency have emphasised that movements of C& I waste in the SWMA have been derived from a sample survey of businesses conducted in 1998/99, and should not be used to infer trends. 7 Source: Cornwall Structure Plan Monitoring & Review Paper No.2 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 27 Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002) ! The Cornwall Structure Plan predicts a Predicted disposal requirements for MSW and shift away from traditional sectors such C& I waste in Cornwall as agriculture, fishing, mining and A9.19 Approximately 407,000 tonnes of MSW manufacturing towards the service sector. and C& I waste is disposed at United Mines and Again this will influence the nature of Connon Bridge landfill sites at an approximate wastes arisings from commerce and ratio of 50%:50%. At the time of compiling this industry. Paper Lean Quarry is permitted to receive MSW and C& I waste for landfill purposes, but is not ! Tourism is considered to be a major yet operational. Projected levels of recovery and contributor to the general commercial disposal are shown in Table 1 enclosed. The stream and a significant proportion of table shows that up until the end of 2012 the Cornwall’s economy is dependent on this cumulative tonnage requiring disposal for both sector8. Changes in this sector may MSW and C& I waste amounts to approximately influence the commercial and industrial 3.4 million tonnes. Assuming 1 tonne occupies 1 waste stream; m3 (after compaction) the cumulative disposal requirement to the end of 2012 amounts to 3.4 ! By 2005 the quantity of commercial and million m3. industrial waste to landfill will be 85% of 1998 levels9. A9.20 A more detailed discussion on landfill capacity is set out at paragraph A9.26, and a A9.17 In assessing future disposal requirements consideration of Energy from Waste is set out in of this waste stream the following assumptions Chapter 5 of the Plan. have been made:- Construction & Demolition Waste Arisings ! Disposals of non-inert industrial and A9.21 Construction and demolition waste commercial waste will increase from comprises, in varying degrees, quantities of current levels (at around 150,000 tonnes) building materials, asphalt and road planings, by 2% per annum to 2004 and then no topsoil and subsoil, and arisings from building further increases in gross tonnage schemes, road construction and maintenance disposed to landfill up until 2012. (The programmes and demolition sites. Data provided initial increase is influenced in part by by the Environment Agency suggests that the projected increase in household disposals of construction and demolition waste to numbers in the County. The levelling off licensed landfills in the County amounted to is influenced by the potential impact of around 180,000 tonnes in 1998/99 (SWMA the packaging regulations and other Annex 4 – Table 1, page 67). For the same year waste minimisation initiatives). the Agency also suggest that landfill capacity for inert waste (at licensed landfills) was some 1.7 A9.18 It is proposed that key commercial waste million m3. If it is assumed that disposal levels generating sectors will be tracked, both remain at around the same levels as in 1998/98 retrospectively and as new information becomes and that 1.5 tonnes of inert waste occupies 1 m3 available. This information will reflect the there was sufficient capacity in 1998/99 to cater likelihood of increases or decreases in the for around 2.55 million tonnes of construction commercial and industrial waste stream. and demolition waste. With inputs at around 180,000 (and assuming they remained at this level), that capacity would be sufficient for around 14 years from 1998/99 and for around 10 years from 2001/02.
8 Source: SWMA 2000 and Cornwall Structure Plan Monitoring and Review Paper No.2 9 This target has been set by the UK Waste Strategy 2000, although it is not mandatory A 28 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002) A9.22 Insufficient data is currently available to sludge in Devon & Cornwall currently accounts indicate long term trends in disposal although for approximately 20% of total waste arisings. landfill tax and recycling activities are likely to have a major bearing on levels of recovery and A9.26 With regard to other waste streams, no disposal. In addition to disposal at licensed sites, further data is available, other than what is some construction and demolition waste goes to contained within Chapter 3 of the Plan. However “exempt sites” (sites exempt from waste should any revised data for these waste streams management licensing). Potential capacity at become available they will be incorporated into such sites will therefore provide further capacity the Plan. over and above that identified at registered sites. Current landfill capacity Other Waste Streams A9.23 Other waste streams produced by Existing landfill facilities industrial activities include Special/Hazardous A9.27 Landfill capacity for municipal and non- Waste, Clinical Waste and Sewage Sludge. No inert industrial and commercial waste is provided further statistical data is currently available for by three landfill facilities in the County; United Special/Hazardous Waste or Clinical Waste at a Mines at Carharrack east of Redruth, Connon County level other than what is supplied in Bridge to the south-west of Liskeard and Lean Chapter 3 of the Plan. However with regard to Quarry to the south-east of Liskeard. The sewage sludge revised predictions for this waste following calculations of landfill capacity is stream are shown in Figure 3 below: based on net available voidspace i.e. capacity inclusive of daily and final cover, surcharging, Fig 3: Total Sewage Sludge Arisings, Cornwall and other ancillary operations. (in thousands of tonnes, dried solids)10 Voidspace at United Mines Year Total Sludge Arising A9.28 It is estimated that currently this site 1996 10,206 receives approximately 50% of all municipal and 2001 18,489 non-inert industrial and commercial waste in 2011 21,200 Cornwall. The site is operated by County Source: South West Water, 2001 Environmental Services (CES) Ltd. Current remaining capacity at this site is considered to be A9.24 The reasons for increases in the approximately 1.81 million m3 (remaining void predicted arisings of sewage sludge are partly space plus extension). The existing consent due to increases in population, and also more (granted in November 2001) is time-limited until Treatment Works coming ‘on line’, but arisings 31 October 2010. are influenced to a greater extent by the impacts of various European Directives controlling the Voidspace at Connon Bridge disposal of sewage sludge (such as the Shellfish A9.29 This site, also operated by CES Ltd, Waters Directive, Urban Waste Water Treatment currently receives around 50% of all municipal Directive and the Bathing Waters Directive). and non-inert industrial and commercial waste. Permitted capacity here is currently the subject A9.25 In terms of disposal routes for sewage of discussion between the Planning Authority, sludge, application to land is still considered the the operator (CES Ltd) and the Environment BPEO, however alternative forms of disposal Agency. Based on original estimates, the will need to be found as legislation ‘tightens up’ remaining capacity is considered to be in this field. One disposal route considered approximately 1.13 million m3, with the life of within the Plan is via composting. Composted the site extending to 2006. The discussion is
10 In practice SWW do transport a greater weight of sewage sludge as the sludge is usually considered 25% solids, 75% water once 'caked' CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 29 Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002) centred on the operator’s recent re-evaluation of capacity and the suggestion that capacity is significantly greater than considered previously. The issue of capacity at Connon Bridge is referred to in paragraph 3.10.
Voidspace at Lean Quarry A9.30 This site has planning permission to develop a containment landfill facility to receive municipal and non-inert industrial and commercial wastes with a total capacity of 2.7 million cubic metres and an anticipated total life of 27 years. At the time of compiling this Paper this site is not yet operational although it is estimated that approximately 1 million m3 of the voidspace at this site could be utilised during the Plan period.
Total Voidspace Capacity A9.31 It is estimated that current total voidspace with planning consent in the County amounts to approximately 5.64 million m3, of which 3.94 million m3 is considered available during the Plan period (comprising 1.81 at United Mines, 1.13 at Connon Bridge and approximately 1.0 million m3 at Lean Quarry) This meets the projected requirements for disposal (approximately 3.4 million m3) during the Plan period if an EfW plant became operational as anticipated. This existing capacity is however subject to time constraints with United Mines time-limited to 2010 and Connon Bridge due to expire around 2006 (see also paragraph A9.29 above).
A 30 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002)
CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN A 31 Appendix 9 - Technical Paper on Current and Predicted Trends in Waste Arisings and Disposals in Cornwall (at 2002)
A 32 CORNWALL LOCAL WASTE PLAN