Harewood Whin waste landfill site set to close

The site at Harewood Whin, near Rufforth, opened in the 1980s and will now, over time, be transformed into a wildflower meadow, which hopes to encourage more fauna and flora to the area.

City of York Council and its operator Yorwaste will be marking this significant moment in York’s history this month.

Household waste collected in York and North Yorkshire is now being sent to Allerton Waste Recovery Park (AWRP) near Knaresborough.

The plant can process up to 320,000 tonnes of waste per year and is operated by Amey on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council. Diverting this waste away from landfill means AWRP can also use it to generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 40,000 homes in the area. (more…)

Waste recovery park generates electricity from rubbish

A waste recovery park for North Yorkshire and York is now fully operational and set to generate enough energy to power 40,000 homes a year from rubbish that would previously have gone into landfill.

The start of full service at Allerton Waste Recovery Park (AWRP) near Knaresborough began this month following a rigorous testing period.

The facility has the capacity to treat up to 320,000 tonnes of waste each year and will divert more than 90 per cent of waste from landfill, as well as further increasing recycling.

It is the result of a partnership between North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council to process waste over the next 25 years. Most of the waste treated will come from households in North Yorkshire and York.

AWRP processes waste through a mechanical treatment plant, which separates recyclable and organic materials. Organic material is fed into an anaerobic digester, which will treat up to 40,000 tonnes a year to generate renewable energy. The remaining waste is used to generate electricity, enough to power at least 40,000 homes. Even by-products will be treated and recycled into aggregate for roads and reprocessed metal.

Treating waste to produce energy rather than sending it to landfill helps with global warming. It will reduce carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking 12,000 cars off the road overnight.

AWRP will be operated by infrastructure firm Amey following a successful three-year construction programme.

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Allerton Park waste project deadline extended.

The York Council has today agreed to extend the deadline by which planning permission for the new waste disposal facility at Allerton Park must be achieved.

The agreement with the contractors AmeyCespa was due to expire today but a last ditch agreement has extended the agreement until at least the “Cabinet” meeting on 1st October.

Propsed waste disposal facility at Allerton park

The granting of planning permission had been held up following a move by a Parish Council which asked for a judicial review of the terms of the planning permission.

This is still being considered by the Court of Appeal

The North Yorkshire County Council also has to agree a way forward.

If the contract were terminated at this stage, then a payment of £3 million could be due to the contractor.

It is unclear why the York Council was forced into making a decision today with minimal notice. The terms of the contract have been known for over 2 years.