A NEW waste depot handling 38,500 tonnes of rubbish and recycling every year is set to be built in Colchester if plans are approved.

Veolia has applied to Essex County Council for planning permission to create a new waste transfer station at its Daisy House base in Colchester, off Haven Road.

The new facility would receive around 38,500 tonnes of non-hazardous commercial waste every year, including general waste, mixed recyclables, glass and card.

Daisy House is used as a vehicle depot for Veolia’s fleet of commercial Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs), which would remain on site after the redevelopment.

A planning report states: “The RCVs are used in association with commercial waste collection contracts Veolia has secured with commercial customers in and around the area of Essex.

“Typically the RCVs leave the site during the early morning periods to undertake their collections services before returning to the Daisy House site to park up overnight securely.

“Veolia’s site also occupies an office, car parking and storage areas associated with the vehicle depot operation.

“These activities will continue to be operated in addition to the operation of the new waste transfer station.”

A new industrial building would be built on site to house the waste transfer station whilst a fire suppression system, weighbridges, refuelling points and vehicle wash facilities also form part of the plans.

Planning permission for a similar development was secured in 2017, however, Veolia wants to build a bigger building after securing some space from a neighbouring timber merchants.

When the site is operational Veolia expects there will be roughly 35 waste tips at the site every day with two additional access routes into the waste site set be added.

The report says any odour or dust created at the site would be minimal.

It said: “Importantly the planning application does not propose any processing of waste materials.

“The proposed facility will only be used for the tipping and bulking of waste materials, which limits the potential for odour and dust generation.

“Potential for odours arising from the proposed changes will be limited primarily because all operations will occur inside the new industrial building, which will be equipped with fast action roller shutter doors.”

It adds: “Given the nature of the application site and surrounding area the local environment is not considered sensitive, therefore any potential impacts from the planning application proposal is considered to be minimal as a result.”

Essex County Council will have the final say on the plans.