Pembrokeshire County Council is planning to build an Eco Park to support the county’s very successful kerbside collection service and the public is being urged to give their views through a pre application consultation (PAC) exercise.
In November 2019 Pembrokeshire County Council introduced a new household recycling and waste collection service and Pembrokeshire is now very proud to be Wales’ top recycler.
The introduction of the new service has resulted in the household recycling rate for Pembrokeshire increasing from 57% in 2017/18 to 71.65% for 2019/20, with a further increase to 73.2% for 2020/21.
To support the kerbside collection service, the Council has been operating an interim facility at Pembroke Port (Units 29 & 41).
However, due the temporary nature of the facility, future plans at the site, and to allow the Council to continue to further increase recycling capabilities, land has been identified at Amoco Road, Milford Haven, SA73 3FB, as a suitable site for a permanent Eco Park for Pembrokeshire.
The proposed development is essential to ensure the Council can continue to provide the statutory services surrounding Waste and Recycling Collections across Pembrokeshire.
The facility will enable materials collected across Pembrokeshire to be bulked, sorted and stored prior to onward transfer to a processing and disposal facilities across Wales and the UK.
It is proposed that the Eco Park be built in four stages:
Phase 1: Recycling transfer facility and associated access roads.
This phase will also contain an office and visitor centre, offering the opportunity for groups to come learn about waste and recycling.
Phase 2: Vehicle / staff parking area. A vehicle maintenance workshop and staff welfare facilities are also planned as part of this phase.
Phase 3: Residual waste and recycling facility
Phase 4: Publicly accessible waste and recycling centre (WRC)
The proposed site will not only future proof the waste facility but will allow a much needed modern replacement for the Winsel Waste and Recycling Centre (WRC) to be built.
Winsel currently services a substantial proportion of Pembrokeshire households (about 30% of all WRC waste and recycling collected went through Winsel over the last three years), but the facility is no longer fit for purpose.
This is due to infrastructure works required associated with Environmental Permit Regulations and limitations associated with development options and access.
Pembrokeshire County Council wants to hear your views on the proposed Eco Park via the PAC and through a community engagement event.
Cllr Cris Tomos, the Council Cabinet Member for Environment, urged members of the public to learn more about the proposed development.
“This is an important development for waste and recycling in Pembrokeshire,” he added.
“Pembrokeshire has established itself as the number one recycling county in Wales but to maintain that position and recycle even more, we need the infrastructure to be able to do so.
“Please take the opportunity to learn more about the proposed Eco Park and add your views.”
