Shireoaks Plastic
Recycling Centre & Energy Recovery Facility
An answer to Nottinghamshire’s plastic and residual waste problem
The problem with plastic.
The UK produces more plastic waste per person than almost any other country in the world. Traditional mechanical recycling methods capture only a fraction of all waste plastic in the UK. The bulk of plastics that we consume defy mechanical recycling methods.
We recycle just 45% of plastics in the UK. That means 55% of all our plastic waste ends up in landfills, and even the ocean. Traditional recycling methods present the UK with a residual waste plastic problem for which a long-term sustainable solution is urgently required.
For residual plastics, advanced chemical recycling is the industries only viable route for recycling.
The Shireoaks Plastic Recycling Facility is designed to recycle these residual plastics.
The proposed development is made up of two facilities
Plastic Recycling Centre
The Plastic Recycling Centre will be run by Refiniti. The Shireoaks Plastic Recycling Facility will prevent up to 20,000 tonnes per annum of previously non-recyclable waste plastic from going to landfill.
Energy Recovery Centre
The Energy Recovery Centre will be run by Envale UK Limited. It will prevent up to 24,369 tonnes per annum of residual waste material (i.e. waste that cannot be recycled) from going to landfill, generating 2.5MW of electricity and 10MW of heat.
The Plastic Recycling Centre
The Recycling Centre specialises in recycling plastic that doesn’t fit the criteria for traditional recycling methods
Our focus is on giving a second life to plastics that might otherwise be discarded, reducing the strain on landfills and lessening environmental impact. With advanced technology and innovative processes, we’re committed to turning these discarded plastics into valuable resources.
How we transform ‘non recyclable’ plastics.
Refiniti has developed a unique chemical process that transforms difficult to recycle plastic items (like cling film and shopping bags) back into raw materials that can be used again in the production of new plastic products, reducing reliance on crude oil and promoting the circular economy.
The Energy Recovery Facility
The facility has the capacity to produce up to 2.5 megawatts of electricity, which could power over 650 homes annually. It also generates 10 megawatts of heat that could potentially be supplied to the surrounding area. The facility has the potential to export surplus electricity to the local power grid, enhancing energy security in Nottinghamshire.
How does it work?
It will generate heat and electricity (partly renewable energy) from non- recyclable waste within a controlled and monitored environment.
The heat from the waste combustion is used to boil water and generate steam, which turns a turbine to drive a generator. The energy produced will offset fossil fuel use.
Recycling
The Plastic Recycling Facility will take previously non- recyclable plastics and enable them to be re-used.
Stop up to 20,000 tonnes per annum of non-recyclable plastic waste from going to landfill.
Reduces quantities of fossil fuel based waste plastic entering Energy Recovery Facilities.
Benefits
Economic
• The development will create approximately 80 jobs during construction.
• It will also create 30 new jobs during operation.
• The recycled plastic will contribute
to the plastic manufacturing industry (plastic packaging tax).
Energy
• Contribute to Nottinghamshire’s energy security.
• Generates up to 2.5 Megawatts of electricity - enough to power over 650 homes per annum.
• Reduce Nottinghamshire’s reliance on fossil fuels and help combat climate change by producing partially renewable energy.
Biodiversity
• A 4,000m2 area of ecological
and landscape enhancement
to support local wildlife and deliver at least a +10% gain in on-site biodiversity.
• Wildflower seed planting and tree planting will occur in the buffer zone.
The Project Team held a public consultation event where local residents could meet the team and discuss the scheme.
The event took place on:
Wednesday 13th of December at the Portland Suite, The Lion Hotel,112-114 Bridge Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 1HT, (2pm — 7pm).
Public Consultation Event
Frequently Asked Questions
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The facilities are being built to provide a solution to the plastic problem in Nottinghamshire and the rest of the UK and to also bolster energy security in Nottinghamshire. Shireoaks Plastics Recycling Centre will use a unique chemical process developed by Refiniti that transforms difficult to recycle plastic items (like cling film and shopping bags) and promote the circular economy.
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It will take approximately 18-24 months to build the facilities. Site working would typically be Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings only.
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Safety of both workers at the facility and local residents are of paramount importance to Refiniti Ltd And Envale UK Ltd. The facilities will be operated in compliance with all regulations.
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A Transport Statement and Construction Traffic Management Plan have been prepared to support the forthcoming planning application. A Transport Environment Statement Chapter has also been prepared. The proposed development will allow the site to resume operations receiving 75,000tpa of non-hazardous municipal, commercial and industrial waste. The addition of the Plastic Chemical Recycling Facility and Energy Recovery Facility will allow the site operator to treat residual waste arisings on-site, reducing exportation trips.
There will still be a requirement to export recyclable materials (i.e. sorted, solid recyclables such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals), petrochemical feedstock from the Plastic Chemical Recycling Facility as well as residual waste materials from the Chemical Recycling process (carbon black) and Energy Recovery Facility (ash material), but these quantities would be far less than if the Chemical Recycling Facility and Energy Recovery Facilities were not present to treat residual waste on-site.
Mixed waste will be delivered to the materials recovery warehouse area via covered articulated lorry.
Access to the site is provided from an existing priority arrangement onto Shireoaks Road. The access has been designed to accommodate large vehicle movements and is in use by vehicles of this type.
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An Air Quality, Dust and Odour Assessment has been prepared by the applicant to assess the proposed developments operational and construction impacts on local air quality, dust and odour. Air quality has been included in the Applicant’s Environment Statement following EIA scoping discussion with the Council. A summary of findings is included below:
· Impacts at human receptor locations were screened as insignificant following negligible pollutant increases across the assessment extents.
· The Environmental Quality Standards are not predicted to be exceeded at any sensitive human location within the assessment extents.
· Impacts at ecological designations are predicted to be well below the threshold for Local Wildlife Sites and Nature Reserves and have been screened out as insignificant in accordance with the Environment Agency screening criteria.
· Measures have been incorporated into the scheme design to mitigate odour and dust emissions, including modern purpose-built facilities designed to fully enclose waste streams and processing areas under negative pressure. The magnitude of dust and odour effects was considered insignificant at all receptors.
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The site has been carefully chosen by the applicants. The site is located on land at the former Worksop Recycling Facility, Shireoaks Road, Worksop, S80 3HA. The existing site is not operational and has fallen into a state of dilapidation following the breakout of a fire on site in 2014. The site has formal planning consent (app. no. 1/02/05/00495) to operate as a waste transfer / recycling facility.
The site is not situated within an AONB, or any other landscape designation. The site is located within Flood Zone 1 - the area at least risk of flooding. As the site was previously used for recycling it ensures no new site will be developed for this proposal.
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A Noise Impact Assessment has been prepared by the applicant to assess the proposed developments operational and construction impacts on the local noise climate. Noise has been included in the Applicant’s Environment Statement following EIA scoping discussion with the Council. The site has been designed to minimise the levels of noise at the closest residential receptors by locating most of the equipment on site within purpose-built buildings and locating any external plant away from residential properties. The Noise Impact Assessment finds that noise levels during construction operations would remain below the levels derived in accordance with British Standard guidance (BS5228-1) for all residential receptors. The Noise Impact Assessment concludes that operational noise levels, including site operations and vehicle movements, would remain below the prevailing background sound levels at all residential receptors assessed during the day. At night, predicted internal noise levels would meet the guideline values for sleeping in bedrooms.
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An Ecological Impact Assessment will be undertaken which will provide biodiversity information. The site proposal includes a 4,000m2 area of ecological and landscape enhancement to support local wildlife and deliver at least a +10% gain in on-site biodiversity. Biodiversity enhancement measures will include wildflower seed planting and tree planting in the buffer zone.
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The facilities will provide a solution to Nottinghamsire’s plastic problem and enhance energy security in Nottinghamshire. In addition, the facilities will create approximately 80 jobs during construction and 30 jobs during operation.
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The fundamental aim of the project is to reduce the environmental impacts of plastic and residual waste, reducing the level of harmful substances that would otherwise be put into the environment.
Envale UK Ltd and Refiniti Ltd are currently preparing a comprehensive planning application with robust supporting technical assessments. An Environment Statement will be conducted and published as part of the application. Air Quality impacts will be included in the Environment Statement. The Air Quality Assessment that will be submitted with the application assesses the atmospheric impacts on sensitive human and ecological areas surrounding the site. If planning permission is approved, the facility will require an SWIP Permit from the Local Authority to operate. The Permit will establish strict control measures for operation, emissions limits, and continuous monitoring requirements.
If planning permission is approved, the facility will require a SWIP (Small Waste Incineration Plants) Permit from the Local Authority to operate. Emissions from the facility will be strenuously monitored and form part of plant control to ensure continued compliance.
Project Timeline
Dec 2023 - Jan 2024
Pre-Submission Consultation
Finalise Proposed Design
January 2024
Submit Planning Application
January 2024
Planning Decision
2024
Operational
2026
About Refiniti
Refiniti is dedicated to finding answers to the plastic pollution crisis. Refiniti is a British company dedicated to tackling the difficultmaterials unsuitable for traditional recycling methods.
Contact
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