Contaminated land

Historically, Hyndburn has long been associated with many types of activity that have the potential to cause contamination of land. Coal mining, collieries, chemical and tar works, tips, print works, dye works, metal works etc have all been found in Hyndburn in the past.

Recent decades have seen a decline in the heavy engineering sectors and an expansion in other sectors. The improved motorway network is key to Hyndburn’s expansion and increasing importance regionally.

Central to the development of new Hyndburn industrial areas is the redevelopment of old industrial and ‘brownfield sites’. Contaminated land is cleaned up and local environments made more environmentally sustainable wherever possible.

The table below compares the area of land in Hyndburn (total 7314 ha) associated with some different land use types.

Land type / use	Approximate area (ha)
Countryside/stewardship schemes	350
Greenbelt	4120
Common land	30
Landfill sites	295
Scrapyards and Transfer Stations	30

Waste Recycling

In order to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill in Hyndburn, recycling rates need to improve. The table below compares recycling rates in the borough with those regionally and nationally.

Recycling rates taken from Best Value Performance Data published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

	Hyndburn recycling rates %	Regional recycling rates %	National recycling rates %
2001/2002	6	9	13.6
2002/2003	7	11	-

All local authorities have been set recycling targets by central government, and Hyndburn has an obligation to reduce the amount of refuse going to landfill. The current aim is to recycle 12% immediately and 18% by 2006. In order to achieve this, the way in which the refuse is collected has recently changed.

Hyndburn waste collection services now offer an improved service via the ‘blue box’ and ‘white sack’. Steel and aluminium cans, glass bottles and jars are collected and recycled separately via the blue box and waste paper is collected and recycled via the white sack (at the same time as all the other waste). Every authority will have to provide a similar service across the country by 2010.

Prosperity Recycling Ltd (ELP)

A joint venture between the PROSPECTS foundation and Trinity Community Partnership, the Hyndburn based Prosperity Recycling Ltd is a local good practice example.

The company aims to produce a variety of recycled goods from three different waste streams as well as to give employment and training opportunities to disabled people.

Flytipping

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. The local authority and the Environment Agency work together in Hyndburn to prevent fly-tipping and to prosecute those who dispose of their waste illegally.

In April 2004, a new database, called Flycapture, was launched; information is inputted by staff at the Environment Agency and by Hyndburn Borough Council. Every incident of illegally dumped waste ranging in scale from a bin bag size upwards is recorded. The database will help to highlight flytipping hotspots and provide a clearer picture of the problem in Hyndburn. Nationally, the scheme will provide vital information for policy makers and resource allocation.

To report illegal dumping of waste, phone the Environment Agency Emergency Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

New Hazardous Waste Legislation

Hazardous wastes items include fluorescent tubes, televisions and computer monitors, scrap cars, batteries etc.

New legislation that came into force on July 16th now bans the landfill co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. As a result, only limited landfill sites around the country are currently set up to accept hazardous waste. No such landfill sites are to be found in Hyndburn; the nearest site that can legally accept hazardous wastes is currently White Moss Landfill Site, Whitemoss Road South, Skelmersdale, Lancs, WN8 8BW.

It is an important time for Hyndburn residents to be vigilant against the illegal dumping of waste.

Information on hazardous waste and on the recent legislative changes can be found by clicking here.

Things that you can do to help in Hyndburn 

         Compost vegetable cuttings and improve your own garden soil

         Recycle, “Do your bit” – recycle your household waste. Use the blue box and white sack. Find out where your nearest recycling centre is located

         Be vigilant against flytipping – remember the Emergency Environment Agency Hotline on 0800 80 70 60

         Support local recycling initiatives