• The site
• What exactly is proposed?
• Timescales
• Stakeholder Engagement Report
• Protecting Local People and the Environment
• Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)
• Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT)

A state-of-the-art recycling and treatment facility is proposed
at Sinfin Lane in Derby. It will accept up to 200,000 tonnes of
waste per year from Derby City and Derbyshire.

The facility would:

• Divert approximately 180,000 tones of waste
  from landfill
• Generate enough electricity to power 14,000 homes
• Create 38 operational jobs and 60 to 80 local
  construction jobs

The site Back to Top

The site is located approximately 3km (1.9 miles) to the south of Derby City Centre.

The site covers an area of 3.4 hectares (8.34 acres) and is undeveloped
following the demolition of the previous tannery buildings that occupied the
brownfield site.

RRS looked at all potential sites in the area, with Sinfin Lane being identified
as the most appropriate. Attributes that were considered during this appraisal
process included availability, risk of flooding, nearby potential energy offtakers
and the size of the site.

In addition, the site has good connections to the local highways.

To view a location plan of the site, click here

What exactly is proposed? Back to Top

The new waste treatment facility will include:

• A Waste Treatment Facility Reception and Recycling Hall to store
  and sort waste received to the site
• A Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility which creates
  Mixed Waste Fuel [Click here to find out more]
• An Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT) facility which converts
  the Mixed Fuel into energy [Click here to find out more]
• A Visitor and Education Centre which will give local schools and
  members of the public the opportunity to learn more about
  waste management. This can also be used as a local community
  centre facility.

This contract does not include collecting, managing or receiving recyclables from
kerbside collections or recycling banks, which will be unaffected by these proposals.
These recycling services will continues to be expanded by the Councils and sent to
the normal recycling processors.

Any potential impacts that the waste management facility will cause will be
considered as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which will be
submitted as part of the planning application. The proposed facility at Sinfin Lane
cannot operate without receiving an Environmental permit from the Environment
Agency. To find out more about RRS’ commitment to protecting local people and the
environment, please click here.

A DVD detailing the proposed activity at the waste treatment facility can be viewed
by clicking here.

Timescales Back to Top

The planning application for Sinfin Lane was submitted to Derby City Council in May 2009 and has been refused. RRS has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate against the decision and a Public Inquiry is expected to be heard in September 2010.

To view artist impressions of the proposed recycling and treatment facility
please click on the links below to download:

Stakeholder Engagement Report Back to Top

The planning application was accompanied by the relevant environmental
information and a Stakeholder Engagement Report which details how RRS has
involved the local community.

Please click here to download the Stakeholder Engagement Report for Sinfin Lane

Protecting Local People and
the Environment Back to Top

Traffic and transport

Currently, there are around 13,000 movements on Sinfin Lane each weekday and
the new facility would increase this by less than 3%. The Transport assessment,
which forms part of the planning application, shows that the local road network
can accommodate this small increase without any noticable effect. A new traffic
junction will be built at the site entrance onto Sinfin Lane – this will be positioned
further away from the railway bridge than the existing entrance to improve visibility
and will involve some road surface improvements.

Air quality

The ENERGOS Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT) being proposed is already
widely used in Norway and Germany. It was chosen by RRS for its low emissions
levels – which are a fraction of the strict limits permitted under European
regulations – and these emissions will be constantly monitored.

The Environmental Statement which accompanies the planning application has
assessed the potential impact of the facility on local air quality. This takes into
account other existing and proposed developments in the area and the Air Quality
Management Area which is adjacent to the Sinfin Lane site. A wide range of
assessments into the potential impact of the low levels of emissions from the
facility have been undertaken which show that local air quality will be protected.

Furthermore, should planning permission be granted the operational aspects of
the plant will be strictly controlled by an Environmental Permit issued by the
Environment Agency.

Visual impact

The facility will be designed to minimise visual impact. The main building will be
set back towards the rear of the site, away from residential housing. A landscaped
earthbank covered with trees and shrubs would be constructed between the new
facility and the adjacent Railway Cottages. The new facility will have an attractive,
modern building which is in keeping with other buildings in the area. The layout of
the facility has been designed so that the Visitor and Education Centre and offices
are the buildings are visible from Sinfin Lane.

Odour

Waste will be delivered by covered vehicles into an enclosed reception area before
being processed. All processes will operate in a fully enclosed, purpose-built facility.
The proposed new waste facility will operate under a negative air pressure system
to prevent odour. The system works by sucking air into the building when the doors
are opened preventing any odours escaping. In addition, a biofilter will manage the
flow of air as part of the process operations, and odour control sprays can be
installed at each door.

Noise

The Environmental Permit issued by the Environment Agency and required to operate
the facility will set acceptable noise levels. All areas of the facility will be designed and
built to minimise noise impacts. Any equipment which could be noisy will be housed
within the facility’s acoustic insulated building which will minimise noise.

A Noise Assessment has been undertaken as part of the planning application which
shows that routine operations and traffic associated with the development will not
impact on the local area, with only a slight increase above background noise expected.

Sustainability

These proposals will help to manage ‘black bag’ waste more sustainably. This will
help to combat climate change by diverting waste from landfill, recycling more
waste, reducing waste transport movements and generating energy. This will save
over 48,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from being produced (as calculated
by the Environment Agency's WRATE - Waste and Resources Assessment Tool for
the Environment) tool. The equivalent of taking 16,000 cars off the road per year.

Mechanical Biological
Treatment (MBT) Back to Top

The Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility converts the remaining
non-recycled waste into a renewable fuel which can be used to produce electricity.
It will be capable of processing approximately 60,000 tonnes of waste per year.

Step 1 ‘Black bag’ rubbish is delivered to the waste reception hall, where cranes
will remove large recyclables and non-processible objects

Step 2 The material is then dried for a period of around two weeks. This treats the
waste by stabilising it using natural biological processes

Step 3 Dried waste is screened and further items are removed for recycling such
as stones, glass and metals. The remaining materials, know as Refuse Derived
Fuel, is then mixed with non-recyclable, non-hazardous household waste to create
a Mixed Waste Fuel, which can then be used in the ACT facility to generate
renewable electricity

The company proposed to provide the MBT technology, Entsorga, has a number
of similar schemes operating, or in development, within Europe. These include a
well established facility operating in Vazzona, Italy and a major new facility
planned for Wiltshire.

Advanced Conversion
Technology (ACT) Back to Top

The ENERGOS Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT) facility uses a patented
gasification process to recover energy from the Mixed Waste Fuel. It will have a
maximum capacity of 140,000 tonnes of waste per year - enough to power up
to 14,000 homes in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.

• The facility uses a gasification process which generates an
  energy-rich syngas from the prepared fuel under strictly controlled
  conditions
• The syngas produced is collected and used as a fuel to generate
  steam in high efficiency traditional boilers
• This steam is then used to generate renewable electricity which
  is supplied to local grid
• The inert ash left over from the gasification process will be used as
  an aggregate replacement in concrete block manufacture
• The state-of-the-art gasification technology turns waste to energy
  in an efficient and environmentally friendly process
• Emissions from the ENERGOS process are significantly lower than
  EU limits
• The ENERGOS technology was specifically selected by Resource
  Recovery Solutions due to its proven track record

ENERGOS, the proposed partner for the ACT process, has seven plants operating
in Europe, similar to those proposed at Sinfin Lane, including the Isle of Wight in
the UK, Scandinavia and Germany. ENERGOS waste management facilities are
planned in several locations across the UK, including Aryshire, Merseyside and
North Lincolnshire.

For further details about ENERGOS log on to: www.energos.com