Waste Transfer Station

Waste Transfer Station

Current Position

During 2024, Rossendale Borough Council (the Council) submitted a planning application to improve the existing Henrietta Street Waste Transfer Station.

Henrietta Street has been an operational registered waste transfer station since before 1997, which is why the site was originally considered. Initial plans focused on upgrading the current site with improved facilities to meet the requirements of a modern waste transfer station.

However, after receiving feedback from residents and statutory consultees, the Council withdrew its application and began exploring alternative sites for a new waste transfer station in Rossendale. As a result, a planning application has now been submitted for a proposed facility at Futures Park, Bacup.

Background 

The Council is responsible for collecting the Borough’s waste (Waste Collection Authority), and Lancashire County Council are responsible for disposing of this waste (Waste Disposal Authority).

The Council collects 5 main waste streams in Rossendale:

Glass, Can and Plastics (Blue Bin) – collated at Henrietta Street and collected by Lancashire County Council daily.

Paper and Card (Grey Bin) – collated at Henrietta Street and collected by Lancashire County Council daily.

Garden (Brown Bin) – disposed of directly at Brosters Environmental.

Residual (Green Bin) – collated at Henrietta Street and disposed of at Whinney Hill daily.

Street Cleansing – collated at Henrietta Street and taken to Darwen Waste Transfer Station.

Lancashire County Council will end its contract with Whinney Hill (Accrington) landfill site on 31st March 2026. Following this, the Rossendale Borough Council has two options for waste disposal:

  • Build a local Waste Transfer Station – where waste can be collected, collated, and stored before being transported for disposal.
  • Transport all collected waste to Lancashire County Council’s Farington (Leyland) landfill site – where waste has to be taken directly to Farrington on a daily basis, this is a 60-mile round trip taking over 1 hour each way (not considering traffic implications).

The Council aims to find a solution that is both financially responsible and meets the future needs of the local community.

A list of frequently asked questions has been produced to answer common questions and concerns in relation to the proposed waste transfer station, what it means for residents, and the next steps in the process.