Skegness whales taken to rendering facility '“ not landfill

The last-ditch change of plan on Wednesday night came as the option that they could be incinerated became available as the three whales left the town for Sheffield.

In a statement from East Lindsey District Council, James Gilbert said: “The intention when the whales were moved from Skegness beach on Wednesday evening was that they would be taken to landfill.

“A further option, which had previously been far more expensive, became available to the contractor as the whales were leaving the site, allowing the whales to be diverted from landfill and instead taken to a rendering facility.

“The cost of the removal and disposal was around £26,000.”

It is understood that Welton Aggregates, who removed the whales, had been instructed to dispose of them in “the best” but “most cost-effective” way.

Mr Gilbert said: “The cost for landfill would have been £10,000 per whale but the rendering option saved £4,000.”

* See tomorrow’s Skegness Standard for coverage of the removal of three whales in darkness from the beach.

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Whale carcasses removed from Skegness beach