Monday 15 April 2013

Permit granted to operate Hertfordshire recycling facility

A waste management firm has been granted permission to operate a proposed recycling and energy recovery plant in Hertfordshire.

The facility in New Barnfield, Hatfield (pictured) is expected to have the capacity to process 380,000 tonnes of waste and create around 350 jobs during the construction phase.

The permit from the Environment Agency for Veolia Environmental Services details the Agency’s requirements for monitoring operations and the limits set for emissions, including air, water and land as well as odours, noise and vibration. It concluded it is “satisfied” that Veolia will “carry out activities in accordance with the permit, without harm to the environment or human health”.

Keith McGurk, Regional Director for Veolia said: “The decision to grant our permit recognises that this facility is a crucial part of Hertfordshire’s strategy to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill – a response to both cost and environmental pressures. Waste is a valuable resource and energy from waste facilities have a critical role to play.”

The Environment Agency added the need to “urgently” find affordable ways of managing municipal waste that cannot be recycled and maximise its use as a resource.

The development of the facility is subject to planning permission, which will be considered following a public enquiry in September.