The Environment Agency is holding its second public consultation on an environmental permit variation application from waste operator, Veolia ES Hampshire Limited.

From Friday 7 January until midnight on 18 February 2022, communities can comment online via the consultation portal – Citizen Space.

Veolia ES Hampshire Limited applied to the Environment Agency to vary their existing Alton Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) environmental permit, to allow the operation of a proposed advanced energy recovery facility, often referred to as an incinerator, near Alton in Hampshire.

The first consultation to seek public views took place last year. Since then, the Environment Agency has considered all the relevant comments received in response to the consultation and summarised in a draft decision document.

Colin Chiverton, area environment manager at the Environment Agency, said: > We have decided that the application has provided sufficient information for us to determine that the facility will not cause harm to the environment or people’s health. > There is now the opportunity for members of the public to examine and make comments on our draft decision document and the conditions we are ‘minded to’ include in the draft variation notice. We will review these comments to ensure that we consider all relevant issues raised before making our final decision.

The Environment Agency is looking specifically for environmental or health considerations from members of the public – as the request from the operator is a significant variation to the existing Alton MRF permit for the proposed Advanced Energy Recovery Facility.

The proposed facility would be capable of treating around 330,000 tonnes of non-recyclable non-hazardous waste each year from homes and businesses across Hampshire and its neighbouring counties.

Colin Chiverton added:

You can comment on issues that could affect you or where you have particular local knowledge. We take all relevant comments into account so we can make better decisions. > Should the permit variation be granted, specialist Environment Agency officers will regularly audit the operation, including analysing monitoring data, and will also conduct unannounced inspections.

The consultation runs from 7 January until midnight on 18 February 2022. The draft decision document and draft variation notice can be viewed online at: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/gu34-4jd-veolia-es-hampshire-limited

Comments can be made online at the above webpage or they can be emailed to us at pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk

If you are unable to access the application online please call our National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 who will be able to help you between 9am-6pm Monday- Friday.