Pioneering plastics recycling plant approved for Sleaford site

Members of Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee voted in line with officers’ recommendations on Monday (November 9 ) in favour of permitting Clean Planet Energy’s application for a waste pyrolysis plant on Plot 2 of Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, next to the A17 bypass.

This was despite objections from Sleaford Town Council and county councillor for Sleaford Stephen Clegg spoke against it at the meeting, arguing that although he was in favour of the principle of the recycling plant, it was in “the wrong place” as it would be just over 300 metres away from new housing being built on the Holdingham Grange development, although other parts of the enterprise park would be closer to the homes.

Coun Clegg argued that new residents due to move in to new build homes had believed they would only be close to light industrial development, not a plastics recycling plant. He felt they should defer the decision and give residents more time to understand the proposal and make their views known.

He said: “Many of those residents had no opportunity to participate, while others tell me they were unaware of the proposal altogether.”

However council officials insisted that they had followed the expected consultation guidelines.

The county council regulates waste disposal. Council officers, and agent for the applicants Robert Doughty explained that pyrolysis is a chemical reaction that involves the molecular breakdown of the waste plastic using a heat reaction, reducing the waste plastics to Purified Pyrolysis Oil, providing an easier to process alternative to virgin fossil fuels for the petrochemical industry to make more plastic, supporting a circular economy in the UK. Any residual heat and water vapour would be released via a 30 metre chimney.

The facility is expected to process up to 25,000 tonnes of previously non-recyclable plastic waste, such as fast food containers, shopping bags and plastic films, per year drawn from the local area which would be subject to environmental permits and conditions monitoring noise, air quality, odour and traffic impact, as well as fire regulations.

Councillors were told that this plastic would otherwise be sent to landfill, incinerated, or left to pollute the environment.

The plant would have its own lagoon to collect surface water run-off and as a water source in case of fire.

Mr Doughty said the plant would employ up to 30 local, skilled staff to operate the facility.

This is the second such plant in the UK by the applicants, the first being opened in the the North East.

Commenting on the proposal, committee chairman Coun Thomas Sneath said: “This is brand new technology and it is quite exciting to have one here in Lincolnshire. We produce a lot of plastics and we are encouraged to recycle.”

He said burning plastics can be problematic for the county’s energy from waste incinerator.

Speaking after the meeting, Coun Clegg said: “While I am disappointed that a deferral was not supported, I was pleased that members took local concerns seriously and gave detailed consideration to issues including noise, odour, emissions, traffic and safety before reaching their decision.

“The approval includes a range of planning conditions covering matters such as noise mitigation, odour management, dust management, pollution control, lighting and site management, alongside separate environmental permitting requirements. While some residents will remain concerned, I welcome those safeguards and expect them to be properly monitored and enforced.”

Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park is owned and developed by North Kesteven District Council.

Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright was excited that the proposed ecoPlant had been approved for their site. “This is a complex scheme with many stages of preparation including planning permission being sought, and so we’ll continue to work closely with Clean Planet Energy as they now take the necessary time to review the permission and the various conditions it is subject to.”

Clean Planet Energy Director of Expansion and Development Tom Field previously said: “Our ecoPlant in Sleaford would be a key milestone in Clean Planet Energy’s national rollout of facilities to tackle the plastic waste crisis at scale.

“It also demonstrates Clean Planet’s commitment to partnering with local authorities to deliver real environmental change.”