A fresh look at Landfill

Torrential rain, a fierce wind and glowering clouds. Not an auspicious day to visit Heathfield Landfill Site, near Bovey Tracey at the invitation of Lord Clifford of Ugbrooke Environmental Ltd. and Viridor Waste Management. Out came the wellies and the waterproofs and in company with around 4o local representatives we set out on a tour of this 200 acre site to see for ourselves how the disposal of our inert rubbish is handled. No longer just burying the lot in a hole in the ground, regulations in force since 1990 ensure the site is engineered to stop contamination, using clay, bentonite, welded plastic linings and drainage stone to contain the waste and stop water getting in and deadly gas getting out. Currently the site accepts 1,200-2000 tonnes per day. Energy from waste is the way forward and the gas captured goes to the Grid to power electricity. Looking ahead to when landfill is full, future plans include the building of two incinerators in Devon. The highlight of our visit was the display by the two site falconers, who work the site to deter the thousands of seagulls and crows scavanging the rubbish and carrying disease back into the town. Jess, the tiny peregrine falcon enjoyed showing off her remarkable speed. The only one not at all impressed was a buzzard sitting on a post ignoring the whole display.