Press release - 20 Jan 2009

SITA UK consults over proposed composting facility in Surrey

Recycling and waste management company, SITA UK, has run public consultation exhibitions in Surrey regarding a proposal to develop a new composting facility in the county.

The company is proposing to develop an in-vessel composting (IVC) facility, which would manage up to 120,000 tonnes of organic waste, at its Runfold landfill site, near Farnham in Surrey. The facility, which would operate until 2021, would take organic waste that is currently being treated outside of the county. Around 60,000 tonnes of compost would be created and this would be used to restore areas of the Runfold landfill site, reducing the need to import soil to the site.

The application has received a £1.5M award from WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme). The application area is a seven acre site, which lies between two landfill sites. Existing buildings in the application area would be demolished to make way for the new facility. The nature of the site means that much of the new facility would be hidden from view.

The application is speculative and is not connected to the contract that SITA UK’s subsidiary, Surrey Waste Management, has with Surrey County Council. SITA UK is currently negotiating potential sources of organic waste, which includes both the council and industrial outlets.

Mark Fletcher, Business Integration Manager at SITA UK, said: "The exhibition was part of our pre-planning application consultation. It gave residents the opportunity to view our proposals, ask questions and provide feedback on the plans. We are delighted that so many people support the need to increase composting facilities in the county and we were pleased to be able to talk through issues that were raised; the comments that we received will help to shape our planning application."

The public consultation events were held on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 January.

SITA UK expects to submit a planning application to Surrey County Council in early 2009.