Local situation

In March 2008, Chelson Meadow, a landfill site that had been taking Plymouth’s rubbish for over 40 years was finally full and was closed. Instead, waste is now taken to a transfer station at Chelson Meadow to be bulked up before being transported by lorry to Lean Quarry landfill site near Liskeard. This is an interim arrangement until the new partnership waste solution is in place - which is likely to be around 2014.

Devon is one of the largest counties in England, with wide spread communities, so dealing with waste closest to its source is important both for economic and environmental reasons. Currently, waste from the South Hams is taken to Heathfield landfill site near Newton Abbot, or taken to a transfer station at Chelson Meadow before being taken to Lean Quarry. Waste from west Devon is currently bulked up at a transfer station in Tavistock and taken for landfill at either Lean Quarry or Heathfield, where waste from Teignbridge is also taken.

Torbay takes its non-recycled waste to a waste transfer station in Paignton, where it is bulked up before being transported by lorry to Heathfield landfill site.