Work started this week to clear an estimated 20,000 tonnes of waste from the former Alex Smiles site in Deptford, Sunderland.
The major regeneration scheme, led by Sunderland city council, will see leading crane manufacturer Liebherr expanding its business into the former Alex Smiles site.
(l-r) On site: Andrew Turner from the Environment Agency; Lauren Hill from Acumen; Ralph Saelzer from Liebherr; and Council Leader Graeme Miller
Work to clear the 20,000 tonnes of mixed waste and restore the land is being carried out by contractor Acumen Waste and is expected to take approximately 12 weeks to complete. Waste removed from the site will be disposed of at a landfill in Teesside.
The site was hit by a major fire in May 2018 which took more than three weeks to extinguish.
Administration
Liebherr Sunderland currently builds maritime cranes and cargo handling equipment from its base on the banks of the River Wear adjacent to the privately-owned waste site. The waste site has been closed since business operator Alex Smiles went into administration in 2015.
Sunderland council said that it had worked for some time with the Environment Agency on a long term plan to bring the site back into use as a base for manufacturing.
Once cleared, the site will be leased to Liebherr which is looking to expand its Sunderland base where it employs 200 skilled workers. Liebherr founded its company in 1988 and Liebherr Sunderland Works Ltd. produces Reachstackers and Harbour Mobile Cranes. The company is also part funding the clearance of the site.
There will also be further remediation on the remaining buildings after the site has been cleared ahead of Liebherr expanding its operations onto the site.
Blight
Council leader, Graeme Miller, said: “I’m delighted to see work going ahead to clear this site which has been a blight on the city for a number of years.
“There is potential for some short term disruption while work is underway. But we will be working with the contractor and the Environment Agency to minimise the impact of this on local residents and businesses as much as possible and the end result should make it well worthwhile in the long term.
“Without council intervention this abandoned waste site would have continued to be a fire risk and a liability for both residents and the city council.
“Acquiring it has allowed the council to bring a strategically important employment site which otherwise could have stood empty for decades and posed significant risks back into use. It has also safeguarded the continued presence of a long established manufacturing company in the city and provided the opportunity for future employment opportunities on the site.”
[gallery_placement]Andrew Turner, Environment Agency, Area Environment Manager – Regulated Industry, said: “We are working closely with Sunderland City Council and the assigned contractor [Acumen Waste] to ensure the safe removal and disposal of the onsite waste with minimal disruption to local residents and businesses.
“The Environment Agency has been liaising with the City Council since late 2018 after the damaging fire to try and resolve the issues with the former Alex Smiles site, as we are always concerned about abandoned waste attracting unlawful incidents of waste crime.
“The 12-week clearance programme will signal a positive move forward for the City of Sunderland, its residents, the region’s business community, and of course the reduction of environmental risk due to the removal of the waste materials.”
Liebherr
Ralph Saelzer, managing director of Liebherr Sunderland Works Ltd, said: “In very close cooperation with Sunderland City Council and with the backing from our owners it was possible to use this unique opportunity to secure the site which will give us the potential for further development of our business. And we are delighted to see the waste removal commencing now.”
Sunderland City Council said it will be working with the contractor and the Environment Agency to reduce the risk of any impact on neighbouring homes and businesses during the clean-up programme. This may include an increase in odours and dust and possible sightings of vermin as waste is uncovered and removed from the site.
Impact mitigation
Measures to mitigate the risk of any potential impact from the work, said the authority, include:
- Monitoring the weather and dampening down areas of the site being worked on to reduce any issues with dust;
- Using industrial fans and an odour neutraliser to reduce any smells while waste is removed from a limited area of the site;
- Treating the site ahead of the start of the clearance operation to reduce any issues with vermin, supplemented by regular checks once work is underway;
- Waste removed from the site will be disposed of at a local Environment Agency permitted waste facility in Teesside.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
