Press release - 20 Nov 2008
Planners give green light to Dorset recycling centre
Planners have given the green light to a recycling centre at Corfe Mullen, Dorset, which will include much-needed facilities for local residents.
SITA UK, which operates the Beacon Hill landfill site, had applied to Dorset County Council to set up a pre-treatment and recycling centre.
The centre will be used to recycle commercial and municipal waste prior to landfill, diverting materials such as green waste, wood and cardboard, metal and glass.
In addition there will be a small public recycling area after SITA UK agreed to requests from the Beacon Hill Liaison Committee, chaired by Cllr Stewart Hearn, who represents Corfe Mullen South ward on East Dorset District Council.
The committee also includes residents, parish councilors and Matt Hughes, SITA UK’s Landfill Site Manager at Corfe Mullen.
Committee members asked for additional recycling facilities to allow local residents to drop off green waste and materials such as paper, cardboard and plastics.
Dorset County Council has now given planning permission for the recycling centre and additional public facilities subject to 16 conditions. Work is expected to start next spring with the new facilities operational by the autumn of 2009.
Matt Hughes said SITA UK had listened to the wishes of local people and involved them in the planning process.
He added: "This shows the benefit of liaison committees. We said ‘how we can make life better for you?’ and the unanimous response was ‘give us a recycling facility so we don’t have to travel several miles to other sites.’
"We’re very grateful for the support given to our proposals by residents and elected bodies, including Corfe Mullen Parish Council, which has helped speed up the planning process considerably."
Cllr Hearn said: "I am so glad that this facility, which was an original request from local residents, will at last become a reality.
"It will be a great asset for Corfe Mullen and will save many longer journeys to Wimborne or Poole. On behalf of the village I’d like to say a big 'thank you' to SITA UK for providing this recycling centre."
Mike Garfield, SITA UK’s Area Manager, said the new recycling centre will have a major impact on reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.
"The public recycling facilities will complement, and not compete, with other sites in the area and are likely to be very popular with the residents of Corfe Mullen and the surrounding area," he added.
No extra traffic is anticipated as a result of the new pre-treatment centre since existing empty lorries from the site will be used to remove material for recycling.