East Lancashire Waste: Facts, Not Fear

Stepping in to fix problems left unresolved for years

From 1 April 2026, waste from East Lancashire will stop going to Whinney Hill landfill, as the existing contract comes to an end and cannot be extended. Lancashire County Council has now put a temporary solution in place to ensure waste continues to be managed safely, responsibly, and at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers.

For several years, district councils in East Lancashire were expected to progress plans for local waste transfer infrastructure, including new or upgraded transfer stations. Unfortunately, this work was not delivered in time by certain district councils. As a result, once the Whinney Hill contract expires, there will be no local capacity in place to manage waste efficiently.

Without intervention, this would have meant waste being hauled long distances across the county to Farington, driving up costs, increasing traffic, and adding unnecessary emissions.

To prevent that, Lancashire County Council has stepped in to secure a two-year temporary arrangement following an open procurement process. From April 2026, waste will be taken to the Envirofuels site in Burnley.

Envirofuels is not a new facility. It has been operating on the same site for over 25 years and already processes significant volumes of waste from across the country. Importantly, East Lancashire’s waste will replace existing waste streams, rather than being added on top.

What this means in practice

• There is no expectation of a major increase in traffic, and in some cases fewer large vehicles
• Waste will be processed into fuel for cement works, reducing reliance on landfill
• Costs are significantly lower than sending waste long distances across the county
• Collection services for residents will not be affected
• The site will continue to be closely monitored to ensure full compliance with environmental regulations

This is a temporary, two-year solution, designed to provide continuity of service while the county council works with district councils to put proper, long-term waste infrastructure in place for East Lancashire.

Reform is committed to dealing with inherited problems honestly, taking practical decisions, and protecting residents from higher costs and disruption. This approach ensures waste is managed responsibly now while giving time to deliver the long-term solutions that should already have been in place.