Waste management company FCC Environment has been awarded a seven-year contract to operate Torfaen County Borough Council’s new household waste recycling centre (HWRC) and waste transfer station in Pontypool.
The contract – which covers the day-to-day operation of the new site, routine maintenance, and transportation of materials to the waste transfer station – requires FCC to achieve a 75 per cent recycling rate in the first year, rising to 80 per cent in years two to four and 85 per cent in year five. To achieve this, FCC Environment will introduce new waste streams for recycling at the HWRC, such as mattresses and carpets.
Richard Belfield, Group Development Manager at FCC Environment, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with Torfaen [County Borough] Council to offer residents a wider range of services which will help to improve the area’s recycling rates.
“FCC Environment is the leading operator of household waste recycling centres in the UK. We know that our experience and expertise will help to significantly improve recycling rates in Torfaen in a cost-effective way.”
New HWRC details
Torfaen’s new split-level HWRC in New Inn opened to the public on 1 April, after being expanded by approximately 9,600 square metres. The expansion was undertaken by the council to allow more material to be collected and boost local recycling rates.
The split-level design was reportedly chosen for safety reasons, as it separates public vehicles from the waste and recycling wagons, and allows for off-road queuing, improving traffic flow.
Councillor John Cunningham, executive member for neighbourhood services at Torfaen council, said: “Our previous household waste recycling centre was built in the 1980s and was too small to cope with the range of materials we are now required to recycle.
“Our new and improved site can handle a higher volume of materials and we look forward to working with FCC Environment to meet our future recycling targets.”
The council has also now introduced a £10 administration fee for those applying for van and trailer permits for the HWRC. The permits cover two trips to the HWRC, and residents can apply for up to five permits per year. The fees are being introduced as part of measures to save £11 million in 2015/16.
Find out more about Torfaen’s new HWRC in Pontypool.
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