Bristol Waste has been granted permission to operate the recycling baler and sorting line 24/7 at its St Philips depot. City councillors approved the proposals unanimously after hearing the authority’s waste company “desperately” needed to remove a planning restriction that meant it could run it only from 7am to 11pm.
A total of 29 neighbours objected on the grounds of noise and loss of residents’ amenity. But Bristol City Council senior pollution control officer Mark Curtis told the development control committee that noise from the baler, which is inside and sorts cardboard and plastic, was way below the background level around the waste transfer station in Albert Road.
He said general noise levels in the industrial area were fairly high, even at night. Cllr Serena Ralston (Green, Clifton Down) told the meeting: “While I sympathise with residents who might have had concerns about this, I have no problems voting for it.
“It’s not going to add additional noise and it’s needed. We always have to bear in mind residents’ concerns and take them seriously, which we have.”
Cllr Rob Bryher (Green, St George West) said that 778 nearby homes were mailed about the plans, of which 96 per cent did not put in an objection. The application is part of the waste firm’s plans to improve its service after repeatedly coming under fire for missing kerbside collections.
A planning officer said: “Bristol Waste has a desperate need for this additional capacity. It’s not to say they will be doing it all the time but just the level of refuse they are getting through means they are desperately in need of this option being open to them.
Sign up to receive daily news updates and breaking news alerts straight to your inbox for free here.
“There are no other changes to the operation of the site at all, so all the other conditions remain in place. In particular there’s a condition that says there can be no more than five decibels of noise at the nearest properties and no additional vehicles.”
A report to the committee on Wednesday, January 22, said: “The change will increase processing capacity and operational time within the site and would improve the ability of the applicants to manage the non-planned events and peaks in material received. In support of their application, the applicants highlight that they need to increase recycle quantities and capture rates in order to achieve ambitious targets in the Bristol Waste strategy.
“It is noted that baled cardboard has a better resale value than loose (unbaled) card.”
Try BristolLive Premium for FREE without intrusive ads and brilliant new features
No intrusive adverts, pop-ups or distractions! Just our brilliant content presented in the best way possible.
Get your free one-month trial by visiting the ‘Premium’ tab on the BristolLive app now (auto renews annually at £19.99).
If you haven’t got it already, get started by downloading our app here on iPhone or here on Android. If you already have the app but can’t see the ‘Premium’ section, you’ll need to check for the latest update. More info here.