Lagoons will turn landfill waste into fertiliser

Two huge lagoons will be built in North Hykeham to recycle landfill waste into plant food.

The lagoons with a combined capacity of 13,482 cubic metres will be created for the landfill site at Whisby Road following apporval by county council planners today.

The lagoons would stand at about 5.5 metres tall.

Developer Waste Recycling Group's idea is to pump leachate – the liquid which emerges from decomposing waste – into the water, where bacteria would break down contaminants.

The end product could be used to irrigate and fertilise willow coppices on parts of the restored landfill sites rather than the current system of taking waste away from the site in lorries for it to be processed elsewhere.

The short-rotation willow coppices could also be used to make bio-fuels.

Planners rejected the proposals for two other lagoons measuring 18,769 cubic metres at Gainsborough's Lea Road facility.

Environmental health officers will now carry out full odour assessments.

Both schemes were discussed at the county council's planning and regulation committee meeting at County Offices, in Lincoln, this morning.

For more on the lagoon proposals, see Monday's Echo.