Thieves strike at green spot - 9 Sept 2010

Thieves strike at green spot - 9 Sept 2010Several burglaries have caused damage to scientific and engineering equipment at a restored landfill site in St Helens.

Thieves have been targeting various items of equipment for their copper metals at Billinge Hill, with waste officers saying it could impair the monitoring and safety work regularly performed on the site.

The closed landfill at Billinge is renowned locally as a green space and a site of significant ecological interest. Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA), the body responsible for the management and environmental monitoring of the site, is warning there could be impacts on flora and fauna after the theft of the equipment over the past few weeks.

Thieves managed to break through existing security on the site and the theft and destruction of operational equipment has resulted in the site temporarily being without electrical power. Emergency installations have also been targeted.

Alex Murray, Assistant Director of Operations at MWDA, has expressed his concern: “The theft of the equipment from the site we believe is purely for its scrap value – I would urge local people and those using the site to be a ‘good neighbour’ and look out for any suspicious activity at the site and inform Merseyside Police immediately.”

The site closed to the delivery of waste in 2001 and since then it has been carefully restored by MWDA with distinctive new acid grassland. There is specialist equipment installed to monitor the landfill gases and liquid produced from the waste that is a natural breakdown of the material deposited there. Both of these are monitored as part of MWDA’s statutory duty and legal responsibility for the site.

Alex Murray continues: “If liquid - in the form of leachate - is not monitored regularly and controlled by our equipment on site then there is a possibility that there could be implications for local water courses which in turn could affect plants and wildlife. There are back-up systems in place, however it is not ideal to rely solely upon these for a prolonged period.”

MWDA is working to restore the stolen equipment and with local police to try to find those who have damaged the site, and are putting in additional security measures.

Neighbourhood Inspector Ian Cooper said: "Merseyside Police is investigating incidents of metal theft from a landfill site in Billinge Hill and another site in Rainford.

"Crime Prevention officers have met with representatives of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority and have given advice regarding improvements that can be made to the sites to ensure increased security.

"We take incidents such as this very seriously and would urge anyone with any information about this type of crime to come forward and contact neighbourhood officers on 01744 630 943 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

ENDS

Notes to editors:


Specialist equipment was installed on site at Billinge to reduce the hazards presented by a landfill site environment. The control of landfill gases (produced from decomposing household waste) and contaminated water (leachate) is paramount to avoid danger to human health and the surrounding environment. Renewable energy generation engines and back up landfill gas flaring systems control the build-up of this landfill gas and utilise it for renewable energy. A pumping station discharges the leachate from within the landfill site, maintaining a safe and manageable level.


MWDA is responsible for seven closed landfill sites in Merseyside.

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority is a local government body consisting of nine elected Members, representing the five constituent district councils in the Merseyside area. It is responsible for organising and managing the disposal of waste collected by the five District Councils of Merseyside. www.merseysidewda.gov.uk


Media contact:

John Lally, Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority
0151 255 2568, john.lally@merseysidewda.gov.uk