Caerwent waste firm’s tidy-up will cost thousands (From South Wales Argus)

Caerwent waste firm’s tidy-up will cost thousands

6:20pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News By Melissa Jones

THE cost of removing and disposing of waste left by an insolvent composting company is likely to run into many thousands of pounds, according to the Environment Agency.

Around two acres of land on the Ministry of Defence training area of Caerwent has been fenced off because of the waste left by Wormtech, now in receivership and based on MoD land.

The firm had its environment permit suspended by the Environment Agency in July and collapsed in October.

The agency said its investigations into activity at the site are ongoing.

“The total cost of removal and disposal of the wastes is forming part of our investigation, but is likely to run into many thousands of pounds,” a spokesman for the agency said.

Wormtech is now in the hands of the official receiver and is playing no further part in the management of the site.

Instead the agency, Monmouthshire Council and the MoD are trying to find a way for the waste to be removed as soon as possible.

The agency said the firm left food waste and compost at different stages of decomposition.

No hazardous wastes are present, and the agency says that as a result of its work of tankering leachates off site for treatment, no pollution has occurred.

Leachates are liquids produced by composting.

The risk to ground water is decreasing as the waste degrades, a spokesman said.

“However, our immediate concern has been that nutrient- rich run-off will enter rivers and streams,” he said.

“This can cause oxygen depletion that can cause harm to fish. Recent sampling has shown the concentration of these pollutants has decreased as expected.

“In the short term, the MoD has fenced off some of the training area to prevent sheep grazing and to restrict access by military personnelduring training.”