Air quality case study

Waste Transfer Station, Tiptree

Background

A Waste Transfer Station (WTS) was proposed at The Basket Works in Tiptree. The site was not within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). The AQMAs closest to the site were Lucy Lane North in Stanway, Central Corridors in Colchester, MDC AQMA 1 in Maldon, and Chelmsford Army and Navy, all of which had been declared for exceedances in annual mean concentrations of NO2.

Challenge

WTS facilities have the potential to generate dust during both the construction and operational phases, which can have nuisance and human health impacts. Therefore, a Dust Risk Assessment (DRA) was required to support the application to assess the dust risk during the construction and operational phases and recommend suitable mitigation measures.

Solution

The DRA included construction activity associated with the WTS which comprised a steel frame shed, steel cladding, and precast concrete over a construction period of 1 month. The DRA also assessed the potential for dust from operational activity associated with the WTS. The main dust emission sources during operation were HDV movements to and from the site access to Grange Road, unloading and loading of waste material at the WTS facility, movement of waste within the WTS building, and unloading and loading of process waste from the stockpiled area.
Construction activity associated with the proposed WTS was assessed to be negligible for dust effects, with operational activity assessed to be low risk.