Waste Transfer Station

What is a waste transfer station?

A waste transfer station is a facility where collected waste is brought together and temporarily stored before being transported for disposal or recycling. It acts as a central hub to make waste management more efficient.

The proposed site will collate and temporarily store Rossendale’s waste, which will be transferred into larger HGVs for transport to Farington for processing. This approach reduces the number of vehicle journeys and fuel use, eases traffic congestion, and lowers carbon emissions.

Why is the Council proposing a new Waste Transfer Station?

Having a local waste transfer station will prevent the need for multiple daily long-distance trips to Farington (Leyland), delivering significant cost savings and greater efficiency for Rossendale’s waste collection service.

To run the Council’s fleet of 30 refuse vehicles directly to Farington multiple times per day will result in an additional cost of around £2 million per year. 

The Council is aware of residents’ concerns about how waste is currently stored at the Henrietta Street waste transfer station. Currently, waste is stored outdoors, which makes the site look untidy, leaves it exposed to the weather, and makes controlling odours, pests, and fire risks challenging. Significant upgrades are needed to improve waste storage and ensure the site meets both residents’ expectations and Environment Agency regulations.

What will the proposed waste transfer station look like?

Why has the Council chosen Futures Park, Bacup, as the new site for a waste transfer station?

Futures Park was identified as the most suitable location following the withdrawal of the Henrietta Street application. The vacant site offers enough space for a modern, purpose-built facility that can meet current and future waste management needs. Futures Park is a Brownfield site that has been earmarked for commercial usage for a number of years, and unlike the Henrietta Street site, is set away from residential areas.  

The location provides easy access to the main road network, making it more efficient for waste collection vehicles to deliver waste and for larger HGVs to transport it on to Farington.  The location is central to the Borough minimising the vehicle movements of the front-line refuse fleet.

Who will own and operate the facility?

The proposed waste transfer station will be owned by Rossendale Borough Council, who will over-see the day-to-day running of the site as part of its responsibilities as the Waste Collection Authority. 

What waste will be stored in the facility?

Glass, Cans and Plastics, Paper and Card, Residual, Food Waste, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and Street Cleansing waste will all be collected, and collated at the facility before being transported for disposal.

How long will the waste be stored in the station?

Collected waste will be offloaded from the Refuse Collection Vehicles on the day of collection, and will be transported to Farington the following day wherever possible.

The planning application allows for waste to be stored on site for up to 4 days, but this would only happen in exceptional circumstances, such as problems with the collection schedule. The 4-day allowance provides extra capacity so the site can safely store waste if there are unexpected delays, without causing a significant build-up.

Will the introduction of food waste collections impact on the volume of waste stored at the facility?

From March 2026, Waste Collection Authorities will be required to collect food waste separately from residual waste to help reduce landfill and improve recycling rates. At present, food waste is included in residual waste, so the volume of waste at the facility will not increase. Separate food waste collections will only mean residual and food waste collections are separate.

Will the proposed waste transfer station affect local residents and businesses?

The proposed facility at Futures Park, Bacup, will be set away from residential areas to reduce potential noise and traffic disruption.  The facility will have a modern Carbon-based air filtration system to eliminate odours.

Statutory consultation with residents, local businesses, and statutory consultees will be carried out as part of the planning process. Feedback from this consultation will be considered during the planning process, helping to ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to the local community.

Will it create extra noise, traffic, or odours in the area?

The proposed facility will store waste inside a purpose-built building, with noise screening to minimise any disturbance. Since waste is not processed on site, the main source of noise will come from vehicle movements. These will be significantly reduced because loading and tipping will happen inside the building.

The number of vehicles will only increase due to the additional food waste collections starting March 2026, plus a few additional trips by larger waste collection vehicles.

The building will be equipped with a specialist odour control system which will filter the air inside the building through charcoal filters. All waste will be processed within the facility and therefore, odours will be kept to a minimum.

Will the waste be visible to residents or passersby?

All collected waste will be offloaded and stored inside the building and therefore, will not be visible from outside the facility.

How will vermin be controlled?

The proposed waste transfer station is designed to minimise the risk of vermin. As waste is stored inside the facility, it will be enclosed and protected from birds, rodents, and other pests. As the building is fully enclosed, access can be closely monitored and managed, making vermin easier to control. In addition, the waste will only be stored for short periods which further reduces the risk of vermin.

How will the Council ensure the site operates to high environmental standards?

The facility will be built to meet the latest Environment Agency design standards, including a sealed high-strength concrete floor, push walls, and a specialist drainage system with interceptors.

The building will use solar panels to supply electricity. By keeping waste processing on site and reducing the number of vehicle trips, the facility will significantly lower fuel use and reduce the Council’s carbon footprint.

How will the risk of a flood be controlled?

The building will be “bunded” and will have a floor level below the external ground level, the floor and retailing walls will be waterproof and will be designed to contain any liquids (including water from fire suppression) within the building.  If an event (i.e. discharge of the fire suppression system) occurs then any liquid in the building can be safely removed using a gully sweeper and disposed of appropriately.  Whilst there is always a risk of surface water flooding, a drainage system with waste interceptors will be built as part of the development.

How will the risk of a fire be controlled?

Fire is always a risk in any building and the increased use of lithium-ion batteries increases this risk in a waste transfer site. The new development has specialist fire suppression systems designed into the building. The system is based around a water canon model, which uses significantly less water than a traditional sprinkler system and as such minimises any pollution risk, fire prevention water will be retained in the building for appropriate disposal.

What happens when the contract at Whinney Hill ends in March 2026?

As a result, of revising the proposed site from Henreietta Street to Futures Park, Bacup, the redevelopment will not be completed by March 2026. Interim arrangements will be made including the transfer of waste directly to Farington at an additional cost.

Will the proposed local government reorganisation impact Rossendale in the future?

Any potential local government reorganisation in Lancashire is not expected to affect these plans. At present, no agreed proposals for reorganisation are in place. Regardless of any changes, the Waste Transfer Station remains a critical component of the waste collection infrastructure in Rossendale. Even if a Lancashire Waste Disposal Authority were established, the Waste Transfer Station would still be essential for consolidating waste before it is sent for further processing