A SITE has been identified for a £7.83 million waste transfer station which could be operating by 2020.

Warrington Borough Council's executive board is set to back plans for the new facility at its Town Hall meeting on Monday.

The proposed site is on Winwick Road between the Shell petrol station and the access road to Winwick Road Skip Hire.

Currently, blue recycling bin waste and black bin waste is collected by the authority and transported to a transfer site in Widnes.

Waste is bulked by the contractor at the location before it is transported for disposal.

Black bin waste would continue to be disposed of at the Energy from Waste plant in Ferrybridge and blue bin material in Shotton, if the new site begins operating.

In addition to the cost savings associated with reduced mileage, the council confirmed there would be a reduction in carbon emissions of approximately 123 tonnes per year.

Cllr Judith Guthrie, executive board member for the environment, said: "If this scheme goes ahead it will be a great benefit to Warrington – both financially and environmentally.

"Transporting our waste to Widnes in smaller lorries is clearly not the most efficient method.

"The area chosen is an industrial site and can't be used for any other purpose and will be developed sensitively."

The total project capital cost has been estimated at £7,837,343.

This cost includes a quantified risk assessment – totalling £969,343 – which is expected to decrease as design and construction of the project progresses.

The revenue saving anticipated to be generated by building the station is in the region of £350,000 to 400,000 per year.

An outline programme has been developed by the authority.

The outline design and cost finalisation is expected to be completed this month, public engagement will commence in September and work is due to start on the site next March.

The site should be operating once the new disposal contract is in place by February 2020.

In her report to members, Cllr Guthrie (LAB – Westbrook) added: "As part of the outline business case, cost savings that would accrue as a result of this project have been calculated.

"Reducing the distance travelled by all refuse vehicles to the third party waste transfer station in Widnes would result in considerable operational efficiencies, estimated based on current prices at £558,000 per annum."

The next stage of pre-construction is forecast to cost a maximum of £700,000.