Visit to Recycling Facilities

Members of CPRE Hampshire visited the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at Alton and the Integra North Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at Chineham, Basingstoke in May. The visit was arranged to acquaint CPRE members with the facilities and their capacity, the impact they make on the environment and on the communities they serve.

The visit was kindly arranged by Keely Gallagher and hosted by John Collis of Veolia Environmental Services in Hampshire, who was very knowledgeable and instructive as well as entertaining. One attendee remarked, this enabled him to "broaden his knowledge about a very topical and pressing issue." Visitors learnt that the facility at Chineham, which is a fairly small plant, puts back enough energy into the National Grid to run 7,000 homes!

Don Stewart of CPRE Hampshire said:

"The facilities provided to support the Hampshire County Council Materials Resource Strategy are impressive and a model for other local authorities. We still need householders to take even more responsibility to sort their recyclables in their wheelie-bins for kerbside collection. The benefits of the operation of these two units in the efficient recovery of materials and energy are important to reduce dependence on landfill and fossil fuels, provide a new source of energy, reduce greenhouse gases and preserve raw materials."

It is hoped to arrange similar visits in south Hampshire next year for those who were unable to attend.

November 2006