Community groups and nearby residents have only a few days left to comment on our proposals for a new Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at our Eco Park site in Parley, Dorset.

The scheme is designed to help us process an extra 60,000 tonnes of waste in addition to the 250,000 tonnes we currently handle.

Because of Covid restrictions and the second lockdown, we have not been able to facilitate site visits for those keen to have their say before a planning application is submitted in December.

Instead, we have created an online consultation including a filmed commentary and walk-through of exhibition boards.

These explain the background to the scheme and how it will help tackle the climate emergency declared by Dorset and BCP councils. 

People can also request a video meeting with our project team and provide feedback via an online questionnaire. 

Peter Hardy, Commercial Director, said: “It’s disappointing that Covid restrictions mean we haven’t been able to welcome people on site, as planned, but we have still been busy speaking with a range of stakeholder groups and we remain keen to hear people’s views.

“Our pre-application consultation closes at the end of November and so now is the time to have your say before we take the proposals further.”

Up to a fifth of the waste processed at the ERF would be recycled with the rest used to generate low-carbon energy for local homes and businesses.

The plans include a visitor and education centre designed to highlight the need for everyone to do their bit to help tackle climate change.  

The ERF would join our existing clean energy portfolio which consists of a combined heat and power plant and a 1.6MW anaerobic digestion facility at Piddlehinton near Dorchester as well as the development of 77MW of solar panels in Parley.

This year we composted our one-millionth tonne of green garden waste and passed the milestone of preventing 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions through our sustainable waste management processes. 

To read more details and take part in the consultation, please get in touch – we would like to hear your views on our plans for the Eco Park.

To request a Zoom meeting, email [email protected]