Recent statistics have revealed that the flagship Mechanical and Biological Treatment plant at Langhurstwood Road, Horsham has reduced landfill waste to just 9%. from just under 30% in 2018/19.
Following a recent visit to the facility, which was built through the provision of a 25-year contract with West Sussex County Council, Horsham District Council Recycling and Waste Cabinet Member Cllr Toni Bradnum commented:
From our perspective here in Horsham, this plant is fantastic and the reduction to landfill waste that has been achieved is an exceptional achievement.
Full of high-tech equipment separating everything we throw in our household waste bins, from paper bags to food waste and virtually all of life's rubbish. Even street sweepings are re-used.
It's a staggering volume they deal with, and the fact that most is now diverted from landfill is very encouraging.
The District Council and West Sussex County Council work in partnership with Biffa, the operator of the facility to reduce the amount of non-recycled ‘black bag’ household waste that the county of West Sussex sends to landfill. The facility is designed to divert over 75% of incoming material into a resource. The cutting-edge Mechanical and Biological Treatment plant has the capacity to process over 310,000 tonnes of waste per year.
The facility includes the mechanical recovery of material to produce refuse-derived fuel which is taken to an energy from waste facility. Any biodegradable material treated within the AD plant generates electricity. The plant can produce up to 4.5MW of electricity to power the MBT facility and exports to the national grid.
Mechanical and Biological Treatment is not a single technology, but rather a combination of sorting and treatment technologies, and is a proven and reliable way of handling waste.
You can find more information about the Mechanical and Biological Treatment facility on the dedicated West Sussex Waste website.
For media queries please email press@horsham.gov.uk .