The Integrated Waste Management System

The Integrated Waste Management System provides the council's long term strategy for the management of household waste in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.  It includes the provision of a landfill site, transfer stations, household waste sites,  and a range of treatment disposal methods including central composting, Energy from Waste, and the collection of source separated recyclables.  In December 1998 Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council signed a 25 year contract to provide these facilities which are operated by Severn Waste Services.

The Integrated Waste Management system, originally based on the Government's white paper "Making Waste Work", published in December 1995, set targets to: recover value from 52% of waste by 2005.Since planning permission for the proposed waste treatment facility at Kidderminster, including Energy from Waste, was turned down, alternative solutions are being looked into.

In 2000 the government published new national targets along with statutory performance standards for each waste disposal authority.  The standard for Worcestershire is to:

·recyle or compost 30% by 2005/6

Waste Services Contract

The Waste Contract is a massive legal document.  Although the document itself is confidential, a large part of it is available for inspection.  The relevant parts can be inspected at Woodside Offices, Perry Wood Walk, Worcester by appointment (contact 01905 768257).  The key parts are the Waste Services Contract (terms and conditions, and schedules) and the Service Delivery Plans of each site, which sets out the details of how the service is to be provided.

The following  Waste Management facilities are presently operated by Severn Waste Services in Worcestershire and Herefordshire on behalf of the two Councils:

Pre-sorted Materials Reclamation Facilities (MRF's)

The materials collected in the kerbside collection service (operated by the District Council's) are taken to a Materials Reclamation Facility for processing.  MRF's are located at Hill and Moor in Worcestershire and Rotherwas in Herefordshire.

MRF at Hill and Moor.Materials are sorted from a trial kerbside scheme.
MRF at Hill and Moor.Materials are sorted from a trial kerbside scheme.

Transfer stations
Waste collected by the district council refuse lorries is compacted into larger quantities before transport to disposal facilities. This reduces the number of journeys needed to dispose of waste.   There are three transfer stations in the area (Redditch, Leominster, Hereford).  

Redditch Transfer Station

Redditch Transfer Station

Landfill site
Situated at Hill and Moor near Pershore. Here waste is buried in the ground. The site also uses the methane gas produced to generate electricity.

Landfill site

Household Waste Sites
Members of the public can use these sites to recycle and dispose of waste from their own domestic property.  The sites are being refurbished and improved to provide split level facilities.

Composting
There is an existing composting site at Hill and Moor near Pershore. A second site will be constructed in Hereford subject to planning permission. Both sites compost green waste collected form the household waste sites.  The resultant soil conditioner " Green Grow" is available for sale at £2 per bag from household waste sites or £2.50 per tonne for bulk loads from Hill nd Moor.  Please phone 01386 861434 to check on availability.

Screening mature compost at Hill and Moor

Screening mature compost at Hill and Moor