Waste

The Waste Management Plan for England (2021) seeks to encourage a more sustainable and efficient approach to resource management and outlines the policies that are in place to help move towards a zero waste economy. The Environment Act 2021 and associated emerging regulations bring in statutory targets for residual waste, recycling and waste collections.

In addressing the council’s declared Climate and Ecological Emergency the council is aiming for zero waste and has developed a strategy – Towards Zero Waste 2030 Managing our resources to reduce climate change (approved 2024).

Having regard to the above strategies and targets, the Joint Waste Core Strategy (JWCS) which was adopted in 2011 by the West of England authorities (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire) is largely out of date. It sets out the strategic spatial planning policy for the provision of waste management infrastructure across the sub region plan area and is currently part of the statutory development plan for Bath and North East Somerset when considering development proposals for waste management.

The JWCS sets out the strategy for dealing with residual waste (that is waste that cannot be recycled/black bag waste) arisings within the area and includes a policy allocating sites across the JWCS plan area for this use. However, the management of residual waste treatment facilities is primarily undertaken by the private sector and it is recognised by national policy that new facilities need to serve catchment areas large enough to secure the economic viability of the plant. Bath & North East Somerset Council, as part of the West of England Waste Partnership, has agreements with private waste operators for residual waste treatment services at Avonmouth. The existing facilities in Avonmouth and Bristol currently have sufficient capacity to handle the residual waste generated within the partnership area and options in place for the extensions to contracts throughout the local plan period to enable management of residual waste throughout the local plan period.

Notwithstanding this, two of the sites allocated in the JWCS for residual waste treatment facilities are within the Bath and North East Somerset area, at Broadmead Lane, Keynsham and at Former Fuller’s Earth Works, Fosseway, Bath. The Former Fuller’s Earth site, Odd Down, Bath is currently operating as a waste recycling facility and has permission for further waste recycling units. The site does not treat residual waste through incineration / energy recovery. There is an option in the Bath section which identifies this site for employment uses under Odd Down – land to the south west of the Park & Ride. Waste management facilities are appropriate uses for employment sites accommodating industrial uses (refer below to reference to the National Planning Policy for Waste).

The Broadmead Lane, Keynsham waste facility site allocation is undeveloped and falls within an area that is being considered and has been identified in this Local Plan Options document as a proposed option for a major mixed-use development (that wouldn’t include a waste facility) at North Keynsham. Given the proposed mixed use development at North Keynsham it has been agreed by our West of England partners that residual waste treatment facilities would not be appropriate at the Broadmead Lane, Keynsham site having regard to the site’s environmental constraints. Current recycling operations and those subject to planning permission can continue to operate or be developed without the need for a residual waste facility allocation.

In considering sites and/or areas for new or enhanced waste management facilities the National Planning Policy for Waste 2014 notes a broad range of locations including industrial sites should be considered, looking for opportunities to co-locate waste management facilities together and with complementary activities. It adds that priority should be given to the re-use of previously developed land and sites identified for employment uses; and to consider opportunities for on-site management of waste where it arises.

Our proposed approach seeks to reflect the council’s aim for zero waste and to drive waste management up the waste hierarchy, recognising the need for a mix of types and scale of facilities. It is therefore proposed that a new policy which reflects the latest policy on waste and sets out criteria for the provision of waste management facilities is introduced within the local plan and will supersede the Joint Waste Core Strategy policies. Ongoing collaboration with our West of England partners on strategic waste management provision in the West of England will also take place.