FIVE new waste disposal and treatment sites could be built to cope with West Kent's overflowing dustbins.
And, under bold plans being looked at by Kent County Council, quarrying could be stepped-up at a further five sites across the area. Tuesday marks the launch of the council's public consultation on its Minerals and Waste Development Framework, which sets out its strategy until 2030.
Under the proposal inert waste - building materials including bricks and concrete - could be dumped at Moat Farm in Five Oak Green and Stonecastle Farm Quarry in Hartlake Road, Capel.
Kent Green Party spokesman Steve Dawe was doubtful residents' views would be taken into consideration. He said: "My experience of any comments made on this particular type of consultation is they don't take a blind bit of notice about what anybody says."
North Farm Landfill has been put forward as a place to generate energy for electricity.
The council, which owns the land, is looking at a proposal by Lichen Renewals to cap the landfill with coal ash and manufactured soil.
Burn Gas emitted from the landfill, which currently goes into the atmosphere, could then be captured to burn green waste for electricity. If the plan gets the go-ahead, Lichen director Quinton Richards said the impact on the landscape would be negligible.
He added that any work that needed to be carried out would be at no extra cost to the public purse. All five of the quarries put forward for consideration are already in operation, although the landowners are hoping to extend excavation into previously untouched areas.
Campaign to Protect Rural England director Hilary Newport promised to respond to the consultation. She said: "We're looking to minimise waste generation, minimise the use of virgin resources and minimise the impact on the environment. "Wherever possible we will look to protect the countryside whilst recognising we do need to use resources sustainably."
Last year the county council called on businesses and landowners to put forward possible sites.
As a result a list of 66 possibilities has been drawn up of sites that could be developed to dispose of or treat substances such as landfill, green waste and sewage. A further 48 sites have been identified across the county that could be used for the production and transportation of natural resources such as sand, chalk and clay.
Stress The council was keen to stress that just because a site had been put forward did not mean it was going to be developed.
The public will be able to comment on the plans when the consultation starts.
The final plan is not due to be adopted until December next year and the earliest work could start is 2014.
PROPOSED WASTE SITES ¦ North Farm Landfill and Waste Transfer Station, Tunbridge Wells Owner: Kent County Council Purpose: Waste recovery using former landfill, and gasification plant for wood ¦ North Farm Landfill, Tunbridge Wells Owner: Kent County Council Purpose: Capping of landfill and waste used to generate energy ¦ Old Hay, Brenchley Owner: Scrapco Metal Recycling Purpose: Recycling of skip waste ¦ Moat Farm, Five Oak Green Owner: Adrian Scripps Purpose: Inert waste to infill sand and gravel extraction ¦ Stonecastle Farm Quarry Lake, Five Oak Green Owner: Lafarge Aggregates Purpose: Inert fill for restoration Size: 260,000 tonnes PROPOSED MINERAL SITES ¦ Arnolds Lodge Farm Quarry, Beltring Owner: HJ Skinner, operated by J Clubb Size: 10ha Mineral: sand and gravel - 300,000 tonnes ¦ Arnolds Lodge Farm Quarry, Beltring Owner: J Clubb Size: 9ha Mineral: Sand and gravel - 200,000 tonnes ¦ Moat Farm, Five Oak Green Owner: Adrian Scripps Size: 34ha Mineral: Sand and gravel - 1.5m tonnes ¦ Stonecastle Farm Quarry, Hartlake Road, Capel Owner: Goldsmid Settled Estates Size: 240ha Mineral: Sand and gravel - 3,000,000 tonnes ¦ Stonecastle Farm Quarry, Maidstone Road, Capel Owner: Hadlow Estate, operated by Lafarge Aggregates Size: 28ha Mineral: Sand and gravel - 1,000,000 tonnes (Figures rounded to nearest decimal place)
