SITA plans to ship Merseyside’s waste to North East

WASTE processing firm SITA UK is preparing a planning application for a rail waste transfer station in Knowsley that will enable it to move Merseyside’s waste to the North East.

It wants to use a 14-acre rail freight station at Knowsley Industrial Estate in Kirkby, currently operated by logistics firm The Potter Group, to move Merseyside and Halton’s waste to an energy-from-waste incinerator in Wilton, Teeside.

The plan is part of SITA’s bid to win a 30-year contract with the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA). Its rival, Covanta, wants to burn the waste at a facility in Ince Marsh, Cheshire. The move follows strong public opposition to a new incinerator in Merseyside.

SITA said the transfer station – which will only go ahead if it wins the contract – will handle 500,000 tonnes a year and create 30 new jobs.

Corrina Scott-Roy, planning manager at SITA UK, said: “This is the first stage of the planning process and over the coming weeks we will be seeking feedback from the local community as we develop the application.
 
“If we are successful in securing the contract to deal with Merseyside’s residual household waste, the transfer loading station will enable us to reduce the number of HGVs needed to transport this waste by making use of the existing rail link on the site.”

Potter Group’s managing director Matthew Lamb said: “The opportunity to expand our operations in Knowsley with SITA UK will lead to the creation of more jobs and will provide a significant boost to the volume of rail traffic using the facility.
 
“While SITA would take operational control of the existing facility, we would redevelop an adjacent site and transfer our operations and jobs there. We look forward to playing our part in helping SITA provide a long-term and responsible solution to the management of municipal waste in the region.”