Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority’s (MRWA) household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) are performing “well in excess” of the contractual performance requirements, its Annual Report for 2016/17 has revealed.
And, according to the report, the performance makes a strong contribution towards Merseyside’s overall recycling rate, which is expected to exceed 43% for the year.
The refurbished Ravenhead HWRC
The network of 14 HWRCs, two material recovery facilities (MRFs), and three waste transfer stations, are operated by Veolia.
MRWA said during the year the public brought “over 163,000 tonnes” of household waste to the HWRCs, with recycling performance at newer sites – such as its flagship facility at Old Swan in Liverpool and the refurbished Ravenhead – reaching over 70%.
Delays
On a less positive note, the report claims that despite plans for all non-recycled waste to be sent for energy recovery, delays with the plant meant that the authority had to continue to use landfill.
According to MRWA, the Resource Recovery Contract will see all non-recycled waste from Merseyside and Halton go through its energy from waste (EfW) plant in Teeside via the new Kirby Rail Transfer Loading Station (RTLS).
However, the report explained that while the EfW plant was completed in the year and handed over to contractor SUEZ, there were delays to the handover of the RTLS. It is noted that this was due to a significant roof repair to the Loading Station following “accidental damage”. This meant that the authority could not “fully access” the EfW plant for commissioning tonnages. The full handover is now expected in early summer of 2017.
Non-recycled waste will be sent to the Teeside EfW plant via the new Kirby Rail Transfer Loading Station (RTLS)
MRWA said its chosen landfill operator had originally stated that the site would be open until 2021, but brought forward the closure. In January 2017 the site was closed and no further landfill waste was accepted, meaning the authority had to source alternative outlets for waste disposal.
Gap
In terms of financial management, the report highlights a gap between expenditure and funding which it said will continue into 2017/18.
According to the report the authority spent £72.3m in 2016, 94% of which was on the contracts to manage waste. The authority’s income from levy in the same period was £65.6m, which was the same as the previous six years.
The authority notes that the balance of funding came from the General Fund. However, it said the gap will be “unstastainable in the long run”.
MRWA said following a Strategic Review it will continue to work with members and the wider city regions to establish the basis for a sustainable Levy strategy for the medium to longer term.
MRWA manages the municipal waste collected by the ‘district’ councils of Merseyside collected under their own refuse collection and street cleansing Contracts.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
