Landfill site performance leads to award win for Cheshire councils

Dec 17 2009 Chester Chronicle

CHESHIRE West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council have jointly been presented with an award for innovative practice at six landfill sites.

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management awards for Environmental Excellence (CIWM) presented the two Councils with the award for winning the Innovative Practice in Waste Management and Resource Recovery section.

It follows the installation of new gas extraction equipment at Backford, Rivacre and Winsford in Cheshire West and Chester and at Alsager, Brownlow and Wilmslow in Cheshire East.

The new gas extraction systems contain specialist equipment designed specifically for ‘historic’ closed landfill sites which contain small amounts of methane gas which are released almost continually.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Environment Executive Member Neil Ritchie said: “We are pleased to receive recognition from the CIWM for the work carried out to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Methane is 24 times more damaging than carbon dioxide which is why it is extremely valuable that this technique has been developed.”