Boris set for waste plant decision (From Your Local Guardian)

Boris set for waste plant decision in Benedict Wharf, Mitcham

8:27am Wednesday 5th October 2011 in Merton By Omar Oakes

Boris set for waste plant decision

Plans for a new waste facility could be given the green light by Boris Johnson next week.

Despite Merton Council rejecting a previous scheme for the new plant in Benedict Wharf in October 2010, a new and modified plan may be approved.

Waste management company SITA wants to build an anaerobic digestion plant which would process about 40,000 tonnes of rubbish per year after the council rejected a previous scheme that would handle 100,000 tonnes.

But under the capital’s planning laws, the London Mayor has the power to overturn the council’s decision after a public meeting at City Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday, October 12.

Councillor Ian Munn, who represents Cricket Green ward, said the proposed waste plant for the Benedict Road site would be a “significant harm to the area” because it would create too much traffic and pollution.

But earlier this year SITA’s planning manager Emmy Smyth, said: “London needs this type of facility to deal with its waste in a sustainable way.

"This facility will mean large amounts of waste can be diverted from landfill and allow us to produce renewable energy from it."

SITA said the changes to the plan, since it was rejected by Merton Council last year, are:

• The size and footprint of the proposed Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility has been reduced by more than half;
• The amount of material that the proposed AD facility can process has been decreased from 100,000 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes per year;
• Plans to develop an in-vessel composting facility have been scrapped;
• The height of the AD stack has reduced from 37 metres to 32 metres;
• The height of the anaerobic digestion tanks has been reduced from 24.5 metres to 15 metres;
• An estimated 20 per cent less traffic than the initial plan proposed.

What do you think? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6335 or email: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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