A Wilde time at MRF opening
West Sussex went 'Wilde' today (15th July) when pop icon and celebrity gardener Kim Wilde officially opened one of Viridor's newest and most technologically advanced Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).
Ford MRF, located a few miles south of Arundel in West Sussex, is the first of its type in the county that sorts and segregates kerbside collected mixed recyclables from all 321,000 households in West Sussex.
The 100,000 tonnes capacity facility has been developed by Viridor at a total cost of £15 million and forms a major part of their development programme to provide new, modern infrastructure and help boost recycling rates within the county.
Opening the facility, Ms Wilde said: "For such a long time, the UK was lagging behind other countries when it comes to recycling, but this is now changing. Facilities like this, together with education programmes, help make recycling easier and part of our daily habits".
Viridor's south east Regional Director, Graham Warren praised the project team behind the development, commenting he said "Although technology is the principal force behind Ford MRF, 15 new jobs have been created as a result of the facility and it has been designed to allow our local authority partners to standardise and increase the range of materials collected across West Sussex."
Ford features the latest in MRF design that includes container glass separation and equipment to positively sort aluminium foil and different grades of paper including telephone directories and liquid food cartons, more commonly known as Tetra Paks. With the introduction of these new materials from the kerbside it is hoped that recycling levels across the county will increase further from the current rate of 40 per cent.
In the drive to educate and inform more local people about recycling, a dedicated Education Centre located on the first floor of the MRF provides the ideal environment for schools, interest groups and the general public to see at first hand what happens at a MRF. A visitor walkway and platform provide views over part of the plant where visitors can see in action the trommel and a series of conveyors as they transport recyclables through the MRF. The interior of the Education Centre has been designed by Wastebuster - a new, innovative waste education resource for primary schools endorsed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). The look and feel of the room is set to inspire and motivate children and adults alike, encouraging recycling and instilling a sense of responsibility towards their environment.
Contracts
Viridor has been operating in West Sussex since April 2004 after it signed a 25 year PFI funded contract with West Sussex County Council. This contract supports seven district councils and West Sussex County Council.
Phill Russell, Head of Wastes Management at WSCC said "Ford will play a key role in helping West Sussex reach a 45 per cent recycling target by 2015 and is an example of the type of infrastructure that is essential in ensuring that residents, communities and councils meet and exceed challenging recycling targets."
He continued “The facility is the result of a decade of planning, procurement and is an excellent example of close working between waste collection authorities, the County Council and the private sector.”
