ITÕS full steam ahead for Onyx Environmental GroupÕs new £13 million material recovery facility (MRF) on the A31 near Alton.

The first stage of the work, demolition of the siteÕs existing buildings, is now under way, paving the way for construction of the new world class cutting edge technology facility by contractors, Ballast Plc.

The new MRF will be the most advanced in Europe with the capacity to process 85,000 tonnes of recyclable material separately collected from households in Hampshire and the project is on schedule for completion in Autumn 2004.

The new MRF will be the second of the new generation of MRFs in Hampshire. The first, in Portsmouth, recently reached the milestone of processing 200,000 tonnes of recyclables.

The new facility at Alton forms a much needed part of the infrastructure being put in place by Project Integra for the handling of the countyÕs household waste. Project Integra is a joint strategy by the countyÕs fourteen local authorities who work together with waste contractor, HWS, part of Onyx Environmental Group, to ensure that our waste is disposed of in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible.

ÒThe county currently recycles around 25 per cent of its waste, a massive 840,000 tonnes is collected in Hampshire each year,Ó said John Collis, director of Hampshire Waste Services.

ÒThe new facility in Alton is essential and I am delighted that work has started. Recycling has been warmly embraced by the countyÕs residents and about 90 per cent of Hampshire homes now have a kerbside recycling collection.

ÒThis second MRF will enable us all to work towards achieving the goal to recycle 40 per cent and beyond.Ó

The north eastern section of the site will be used as a waste transfer station for the transfer of non recyclable waste which will be taken for incineration or as a last resort, landfill.