This in from the council. Ed
New options for dealing with the Isle of Wight’s municipal waste could see the need for a new landfill site delayed until the middle of the century.
It has previously been thought that a new landfill site may be required as early as 2015.
However, recent factors – including the introduction of a new household recycling scheme – have significantly reduced the amount of waste disposed of at the existing site at Standen Heath on the outskirts of Newport.
Life of landfill site could be extended
Now, as the Isle of Wight Council embarks on a project to procure a comprehensive new waste contract, it has emerged the life of Standen Heath could be dramatically extended. The worst-case scenario is that the facility will not reach capacity until 2022 and the best case scenario is that a new facility will not be needed until around 2046.
Details of the landfill capacity are contained in a report to the Council’s Cabinet published today (Monday). The paper – to be discussed at the cabinet meeting on February 12 – outlines options for a new contract when the current agreement with Island Waste Services expires in 2015.
The new contract
The report sets out how the council plans to procure the new contract and explores some of the objectives, including reducing landfill, increasing re-cycling and providing residents with better value for money, that the new contract will address.
The principal aims of the new contract are to maximise recycling and the amount of energy generated from waste and to minimise the use of landfill as a way of waste disposal.
The contract also aims to achieve these aims in the way that provides best value for council tax payers. The new arrangements will also seek to maintain the existing domestic waste collection arrangements so residents will not need to change the way they currently support recycling.
Further aims include:
- Continuing the assisted collection service
- Better access to recycling and reuse facilities
- Zero non-essential waste to landfill
- New services at the same or lower cost than current budget
- Providing a set down area at a civic amenity site for business waste
- Reducing carbon and water impact through the operation of new services
Councillor Edward Giles, IW Council cabinet member responsible for procurement, fire, highways and transport, said: “This is a very timely report given the joint necessity to provide the best possible value to council tax payers and also to treat our waste in the most environmentally-sensitive way possible.
“It provides us with a unique opportunity to provide the most economically sustainable waste plan as well as reducing our carbon footprint.”
“The contract specification will set a budget and aspirational targets for reuse, recycling, energy recovery and diversion of waste from landfill, and ask the waste industry to offer innovative and forward thinking waste management solutions.”
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