ROAD sweepings will be processed at a new treatment and recovery facility in Oxfordshire in a move to boost recycling rates and help cut costs for Oxfordshire County Council.

The facility, at Ewelme near Wallingford, has been built by Grundon Waste Management at a cost of £1.3m.

It is one of the most technically advanced in the UK and aims to help the council meet its recycling target through the recovery of road sweeping waste, such as leaves, sand, grit and metals.

About 5,000 tonnes of sweepings a year are collected from Oxfordshire’s roads by operators working for each of the five district councils, and all of this material will now be processed and recycled at the new plant.

Previously waste was sent to Rugby in Warwickshire for disposal.

Three years ago, the Environment Agency banned the composting of street leaf sweepings because of concerns about the high levels of contaminants including nickel, copper and zinc.

This meant the county council had to find alternative disposal methods.

Rebecca Harwood, service delivery manager at the council’s waste management group, said: “After the legislation changed, we had to send some road sweeper waste to landfill, while the remainder went to an alternative facility outside the county.

“Obviously we were very keen to look for alternatives which would be closer to home and more environmentally friendly. Grundon’s new facility is very impressive.

“We anticipate this will help boost recycling performance rates by nearly two per cent, which is a great result.”