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Bideford Recycling Centre

The Bideford area used to be served by the recycling centre located at the now redundant Northam Burrows landfill site.  This recycling facility was closed at the end of 2002 when the temporary planning permission for the site ceased.  Since then, over 26 sites were investigated as potential replacements, all of which were found unsuitable for various reasons. However, in August 2004 an ideal plot of land adjoining the Caddsdown Industrial Estate became available. Planning Permission was granted to develop this site in October 2005. Construction works started in October 2006 and was undertaken by South West Highways Ltd. Total project costs were approximately £1.2 million.

The Engineering Design Group (EDG) was responsible for the complete delivery of the project, working for the client, the County Waste Management Officer.  The works undertaken by EDG include the feasibility design, final site layout, preparation of a planning application, detailed design, drafting contract documents and site supervision of the construction.

The facility is a ‘split-level’ design whereby householders segregate their waste and deposit it under shelter into containers positioned at a lower level. As such, the majority of plant and HGV movements occur in a dedicated area away from the general public using the site, which makes for safer and more efficient operations.

From a civil engineering perspective the site had a number of challenges, complex changes in ground level, sustainable drainage systems, a foul water pumping system and a canopy structure constructed over the reinforced concrete retaining wall.  As a ‘split-level’ site had not been used in Devon previously the method in which the general public and site operator interact with the site needed careful consideration.

The state of the art facility receives approximately 7,000 tonnes of household waste annually and recycles around 70% of all the waste brought in.

Recycled, Environmentally Friendly Recycling Centre

• The site design incorporates a sustainable drainage system, with on-site underground water storage tanks which balance the release of clean water into the local stream.
• Levels across the facility have been designed to minimise the need to export soil from the site during the construction works.
• Over 7000 tonnes of recycled road plannings from Devon’s highway maintenance schemes have been used in the construction works for capping, sub-base and foam-mix surfacing.
• By preventing the need to travel to further a field Recycling Centres, the new site will save over 1 million vehicle miles per year, cutting carbon dioxide emissions and congestion.