Update on the Porthmellon Waste Site Redevelopment - April 2016
Works to redevelop the waste management site have been underway since September 2015. This is a big project and it is made even more complex by the requirement to continue waste operations on the site at the same time.
Household Waste & Recycling Centre (HWRC)
The first part of the site to be developed is the north end, which will eventually become the Household Waste & Recycling Centre. The works to this section of the redevelopment were significantly prolonged due to unexpected ground conditions.
Most of the hardstanding has now been completed and is being phased into operation as the concrete slabs are poured and set. It is anticipated that the majority of this will be finished by the end of April, with the finishing touches being completed towards the end of the whole project when space and access allows.
Incinerator Demolition
The second part of the redevelopment was the successful decommissioning and demolition of the incinerator following the Councils’ decision to switch the plant off in late 2014. The decommissioning was started in November and completed before Christmas, with the remaining scrap materials being removed from site in the New Year.
Legacy Waste Processing and Waste Transfer Station (known informally as ‘Phase 2’)
The final part of the redevelopment is to tackle the “Moorwell Alps” and to create a new Waste Transfer Station. This involves sorting and processing the landfilled waste on site, disposing of any remaining legacy waste to a mainland facility and retaining useful materials that can be repurposed to create boundary bunds and a sub base for the new hard standing. Once this has been done, a large storage building will be erected to house the waste collection and processing kit and equipment and for storage bays for residual and bulky waste.
After a competitive tender process, the Phase 2 contract was awarded to KML. They started work on site in March and it is expected that the project will continue through to the Autumn.
At the moment, they are removing approximately 500 tonnes of legacy waste from the central part of the site while also preparing their staff, plant and machinery to begin the next stage. There will also be an up-to-date survey of the site.
From the beginning of May, KML will start working their way through the ‘alps’, processing the materials to sort out what is reusable from what is waste. Waste materials will be exported to the mainland for disposal and reusable materials will be used to create the bunds and base. These works will take place alongside the processing.
Day-to-Day Waste Management Operations
While these projects have been progressing, you will have noticed that the waste site operations have moved around the site a number of times. The way we have managed the waste hasn’t changed in the last year, but the locations of activities have had to move to allow different parts of the various projects to take place.
This week, to allow unfettered progress on Phase 2, the Council has had to relocate all of it’s operations onto the new HWRC hardstanding. It is likely that it will remain in this area for the rest of the project.
How will operations and the phase 2 works impact residents?
While both the Council and KML will do as much as possible to limit the impact on residents and allotment holders, there will be some disruption.
Noise
We appreciate that the works will be noisy at times due to the nature of the job and will include some weekend working. However, this will accelerate the works in order to reduce disruption over the main holiday period. KML are committed to limiting the disruption as much as possible.
Traffic
There will be an unavoidable increase in traffic to and from the site, along Moorwell Lane.
Due to the nature of tides and weather, on occasion there may be some traffic to and from the site in the night time. The Council and KML will work together to keep the community informed when these are scheduled.
If you have any concerns about the safety of vehicles moving in and out of the site, please contact Helen Pearce on telephone 424316 or email hpearce@scilly.gov.uk.
Litter, Odour and Gulls
We understand that the relocation of the operations to discharge and containerise waste on the HWRC area means that gulls, wind blown litter and odour will be a concern to residents adjacent to this part of the waste site.
To minimise the impact, the waste & recycling team will ensure that:
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Regular litter picking takes place in and around the site,
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Bays are formed to prevent the waste from spreading,
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Waste will be containerised frequently,
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Odour controls will be used where possible, and
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No black bag waste will be left uncontainerised over a weekend.
If you would like more information or wish to discuss any of these matters, please contact Helen Pearce by email to hpearce@scilly.gov.uk or by telephoning (01720) 424316.