Download Environment - West Sussex County Council

7. Environment
6.2 tonnes
6
tonnes
5
tonnes
4
tonnes
3
of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
emitted per person in
West Sussex in 2012
By sector:
804mm
annual
rainfall
2 . 6° C
predicted rise in max
daily temperatures
by the 2050s
1,665
sunshine
hours
Transport
tonnes
2
tonnes
30%
1
Domestic
37%
Click here for a video summary
High Weald
tonne
Commercial
& Industrial
33%
South Downs
National Park
UP
CO2 emissions
5%
Chichester
Harbour
of the county lies within
National Park or AONBs
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41 3 ,553
at risk of surface water flooding,
with the likelihood of floods
increasing due to climate change
tonnes of waste
in 2012/13
from 2011 to
2012 due to a
colder winter
76,600 homes and
20,100 businesses
53%
Energy
from Waste
44% Recycled
38%
18%
Landfill Incinerated
West Sussex County Council
West Sussex Life 2014
117
Description
‘Weather’ generally refers to day-to-day
temperature and precipitation, whereas
‘climate’ is the term for the average
conditions over longer periods. The UK
has a temperate climate, predominantly
influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The
prevailing wind is from the south-west
and bears frequent spells of mild, wet
weather from the Atlantic, with rainfall
common throughout the year. Eastern
regions are drier, as the prevailing southwesterly wind means that most rain
falls over western regions. However, the
proximity of the UK to mainland Europe
means that continental air masses also
have an effect, with the convergence of
continental and maritime air masses a
major factor in the changeable weather
that the UK experiences.
The south east of England is most exposed
to the continental air masses, which
typically bring warm dry air resulting
in the warmest summer temperatures.
Coastal regions tend to see the most
hours of sunshine anywhere on the UK
mainland, with West Sussex often quoted
as the sunniest county in the UK. However,
coastal regions are also slightly cooler, and
experience more wind and rain than other
parts of the south east, particularly along
the South Downs.
The Met Office compiles and publishes
weather records for the UK dating back to
118
West Sussex Life 2014
Weather and Climate
1910 at a regional level, with West Sussex in
the ‘South East and Central South’ region,
which stretches from Wiltshire to Kent and
includes London. As well as Met Office
regional records, West Sussex is covered
by a network of smaller weather stations
that compile local records of temperature,
rainfall and wind speed. Most of these
stations are run independently, with many
appearing in the last few years across the
county.
Performance
The South East and Central South region
of England saw a summer mean daily
maximum temperature of 22.1°C in 2013,
the warmest summer since 2006 for
the region. The mean daily maximum
temperature is the average of the highest
temperature recorded each day during
a period, with summer defined as the
months of June, July and August. Similarly,
the mean daily minimum temperature
is the average of the lowest temperature
recorded each day (typically at night)
during a period, with winter defined as
the months of December, January and
February (with the year referring to the
months of Jan/Feb, e.g. winter 2013 is the
period December 2012 to February 2013).
The highest summer temperatures on
record occurred in 1976, with a mean daily
maximum of 24.1°C, The lowest occurred
in 1954 with a mean daily maximum of
West Sussex County Council
South region was 1.4°C in 2013. The lowest
winter temperatures were recorded in
1963, with a mean daily minimum of
-3.4°C, and the highest occurred in 1990,
with a mean daily minimum of 3.9°C.
Similar to summer temperatures, the 10
year average showed a period of warming
from 1987 to 2007, peaking in the 10
years from 1998-2007 with a winter mean
daily minimum of 2.4°C. Colder winters
followed in 2009, 2010 and 2011, bringing
the average down in the last five years.
18.4°C. Averaging summer daily maximum
temperatures over 10 years shows a
pattern of slight cooling from 1950 to
1970, followed by a period of warming
from 1980 to 2010, peaking in the 10 years
from 1997-2006 with a summer mean daily
maximum of 21.6°C over the period. The
moving average has decreased slightly in
the last few years, with cooler summers
recorded between 2007 and 2012.
The winter mean daily minimum
temperature for the South East and Central
Figure 7.1: Mean daily maximum summer temperatures and minimum
winter temperatures in the South East and Central South, 1910-2013
Summer mean daily max temp
Winter mean daily min temp
25
Mean Daily Max/Min Temperature (°C)
Environment
10 year moving average
1976:
24.1°C
20
1997-2006
avg: 21.6°C
1954:
18.4°C
15
10
1990:
3.9°C
5
1998-2007
avg: 2.4°C
0
1963:
-3.4°C
-5
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Source: Met Office regional climate summary
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Weather and Climate
single point during the year, typically on
a summer day. Average annual maximum
temperatures varied between 29.3°C and
32.3°C across the county, with the highest
temperatures typically recorded in the
north of the county, furthest inland.
Of the independent weather stations
in West Sussex with at least three
years’ records available via Weather
Underground, Copthorne recorded
the highest average annual maximum
temperature of 32.3°C from 2010 to 2013.
The annual maximum differs from the
mean daily maximum in that it is the
highest temperature recorded at any
Copthorne also recorded the lowest
average annual minimum temperature
Figure 7.2: Average annual maximum and minimum temperatures
recorded at West Sussex weather stations, 2010-2013
13
11
9
10
12
30.1
32.3
32.1
14
31.9
Environment
Temperatures recorded
at independent West
Sussex weather stations
in the last five years:
of -9.3°C from 2010 to 2013. The annual
minimum is the lowest temperature
recorded at any point in the year, usually
in winter and at night. Average annual
minimum temperatures ranged from
-3.7°C to -9.3°C across the county. Inland
areas of West Sussex have the most
extreme temperatures, both high and
low, with coastal areas showing less
variation between the seasons due to
greater influence from the sea.
Highest: 36.1°C
Angmering, 2009
Lowest: -12.7°C
Copthorne, 2012
13
15
11
30.0
9
7
16
29.7
31.1
3
2
29.3
30.7
5
4
29.6
7
30.5
6
31.3
3
-3.7
30.2
Average high
temp. (°C)
2
-4.9
-4.6
14
-6.2
15
-6.1
-4.8
16
17
-6.9
-6.8
-5.0
1
-9.3
-7.3
-7.3
8
17
32.1
31.0
1
10
-6.2
30.8 30.5
8
12
5
4
-3.9
-4.8
6
-4.6
-6.7
Average low
temp. (°C)
1. Chichester 2. Nyetimber 3. Angmering 4. West Worthing 5. Sompting 6. Shoreham-by-Sea 7. Sullington 8. Ashington 9. Broadbridge Heath 10. Horsham 11. Broadfield
12. Maidenbower 13. Copthorne 14. Crawley Down 15. East Grinstead 16. Hurstpierpoint 17. Hassocks
Source: Weather Underground
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West Sussex County Council
West Sussex Life 2014
119
Ap
r
Mar 134
18
6
13
y2
Ma
Jan
59
t1
11
Jul
8
Sep 157
Source: Met Office regional climate summary
Figure 7.4: Average rainfall by month
in the SE & Central South, 2004-2014
3.9
Average annual
rainfall: 804mm
r: 5
1
Ap
r: 4
Ma
8
y: 5
8
Jun
: 55
Feb
:
No
v: 8
5
De
c: 9
0
Jan
: 85
Ma
64
S ep
: 49
t: 9
0
Oc
48
67
19
56
1
2.5
→
N/A
4.8
4
4.9
→ →
51
2
6
5
3
2.6
→
103
17
8.1
→
→
40
Jul
: 65
Au
g: 6
6
77
→ 2.1
→
7.7
7
21
7
West Sussex Life 2014
→
16
18
120
61
44
8
the rainest
along the coast
24
20
33
3.6
2
Wind speeds
typically
2.1
15
6.6
Jun 215
December are
once a year
10
3.4
51
v7
No
average of 215
sunshine hours
October and
reach 100mph
→ 4.3
→
1.7
→
→
→ →
Average
annual
sunshine:
1,665 hours
Dec 57
9
14
3.9
12
11
g
Au
is the sunniest
month with an
Figure 7.5: Average wind speeds and gusts recorded
at West Sussex weather stations, 2010-2013
02
75
July
Figure 7.3: Average sunshine hours
in the SE & Central South, 2004-2014
b
Fe
On average there were 1,665 hours of
sunshine in the South East and Central
South region over the last 10 years (July
2004 – June 2014). July typically sees the
most sunshine, with an average of 218
hours, closely followed by June with 215
hours of sunshine. December typically
has the least hours of sunshine with 57,
followed by January with 59 hours. An
average of 804mm of rainfall occurs in
the South East and Central South region
each year, with the wettest months being
October and December with 90mm of
rainfall each. April is the driest month on
average, with 48mm of rainfall.
Weather and Climate
Oc
Environment
7.6
→
84
Prevailing
wind direction
7.5
→
79
Average
wind
speed
→
Average high
gust speed
Source: Met Office regional climate summary
Coastal areas of West Sussex follow the
regional pattern for a south-westerly
prevailing wind, however inland areas
typically see a more southerly prevailing
wind. Average annual wind speeds
varied between 1.7mph in Broadfield,
Crawley and 8.1mph in Hurstpierpoint,
Mid Sussex.
There is no clear pattern to average wind
speeds recorded at independent weather
stations across West Sussex, however the
highest gust speeds (the highest speed
recorded at any single point during the
year, averaged across three years) were
recorded along the coast, with West
Worthing recording gusts over 100mph
on average in the last three years.
Source: Met Office regional climate summary
West Sussex County Council
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Climate Change
Description
Climate change refers to man-made
changes in our climate. Global warming
is one of the most well-known effects of
climate change where there is a steady
increase in the earth’s temperature.
Other effects include rising sea levels, ice
caps melting at the poles and extreme
weather events such as hurricanes,
floods and droughts becoming more
commonplace. The Climate Change
Act 2008 sets out the Government’s
commitment to tackling climate change,
including targets to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by at least 26% from 1990
levels by the year 2020, and 80% by 2050.
Table 7.1: Forecasted climate change,
medium scenario for West Sussex
Climate Variable
Baseline
Observation
(1961-1990)
Annual average daily
max temperature
13.7°C
Summer average daily
max temp. (Jun-Aug)
17.5°C
Winter average daily
max temp. (Dec-Feb)
9.9°C
Annual rainfall
718mm
Summer rainfall
(Apr-Sep)
292mm
Winter rainfall
(Oct-Mar)
426mm
Six Main
Greenhouse
Gases
Forecasted Change
2020s
(2010-2039)
2050s
(2040-2069)
2080s
(2070-2099)
+1.5 °C
+2.6 °C
+3.5 °C
+0.7 to +2.4°C
+1.5 to +4.2°C
1.9 to 5.9°C
+1.8 °C
+3.2 °C
+4.5 °C
+0.6 to +3.5°C
+1.3 to +6.3°C
+2.2 to +8.7°C
+1.2 °C
+1.8°C
+2.4 °C
+0.5 to +2.3°C
+0.8 to +3.7°C
+0.9 to +5.0°C
-0.9%
-1.4%
-2.0%
+6.2% to –6.9%
+5.7% to –7.8%
+5.8% to –9.7%
-13%
-24%
-35%
+12% to –29%
+8% to –47%
-1% to –58%
+5%
+13%
+17%
+19% to -5%
+1% to +41%
+4% to +50%
Local authorities need to be able to
assess likely future weather patterns and
any impact this may have with regards
to risks or opportunities that arise from a
changing climate. UK Climate Projections
(UKCP09) provides climate information
designed to help those needing to plan
how they will adapt to a changing climate,
including projections for likely changes
in temperature, precipitation and sea
levels. The Local Climate Impacts Profile
(LCLIP) also gauges the vulnerabilities
of services against past weather events,
thereby helping to assist adaptation
efforts to improve the local authorities’
resilience to any future events.
representative sample survey to monitor
public attitudes to climate change
and other related topics, with the first
wave carried out in March 2012 and the
most recent 10th wave carried out in
June 2014. Each wave consists of over
2,000 face-to-face interviews, with the
aim of the survey being to understand
how attitudes to climate change issues
change over time.
The Department of Energy & Climate
Change (DECC) carries out a quarterly
UK Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09)
forecast a 2.6°C rise in annual daily
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Environment
contribute
to climate
change
Baseline proportions
of UK emissions:
(million tonnes CO2 equivalent)
CO2
Source: UK Climate Projections (UKCP09)
Performance
maximum temperatures by the 2050s,
1.4% less annual rainfall, an increase in
flash flooding at any time of year and a sea
level rise of 21cm. Hotter, drier summers
are predicted; an increase of 3.2°C in daily
maximum temperatures for June-August
is forecast by the 2050s along with a 24%
decrease in rainfall for the months from
April-September. Milder, wetter winters
are also predicted, with an increase of
1.8°C in daily maximum temperatures
for December-February and an increase
of 13% in rainfall for the months from
October-March.
West Sussex County Council
76%
Carbon Dioxide
13%
CH4
N2O
HFC
SF6
PFC
Methane
8%
Nitrous Oxide
2%
Hydrofluorocarbons
0.2%
Sulphur Hexafluoride
0.1%
Perfluorocarbons
West Sussex Life 2014
121
Environment
Effects of rising
temperatures include
Climate Change
Comparing to baseline observations
from the period 1961 to 1990, this means
that annual average daily maximum
temperatures would reach 15°C by the
2020s, 16°C by the 2050s and 17°C by
the 2080s. Annual rainfall is forecast
to decline steadily to 704mm by the
2080s, although upper estimates show
that an increase in annual rainfall is also
possible.
Figure 7.6: Forecasted annual average daily maximum
temperature, central, 10th and 90th percentile estimates
19.6
17.9
17.2
16.1
16.3
15.2
15.2
15.6
14.4
Sea level rises and an
increase in flooding
More extreme
weather events such
as summer droughts
122
West Sussex Life 2014
These figures are based on the central
estimate of the medium emissions
scenario, which incorporates economic
and population growth offset by the
introduction of new and more efficient
technologies and a balance between
fossil fuels and cleaner non-fossil fuel
energy sources. Upper (90th percentile)
and lower (10th percentile) estimates
are also provided for this scenario.
Additionally, the UKCP09 provides
high and low emissions scenarios
which show much greater variation in
temperatures and rainfall, with the high
emissions scenario largely dependent
on fossil fuels to provide for growing
populations and economies, while the
low emissions scenario is based on a shift
in economic structures towards services
and information, reductions in material
intensity and introduction of clean and
resource efficient technologies.
West Sussex County Council
13.7
1961-1990
2010-2039
Very unlikely to be more than
2040-2069
Central estimate
2070-2099
Very unlikely to be less than
Source: UK Climate Projections (UKCP09)
Figure 7.7: Forecasted annual rainfall, central,
10th and 90th percentile estimates
718
763
759
760
712
708
704
668
662
648
1961-1990
2010-2039
Very unlikely to be more than
2040-2069
Central estimate
2070-2099
Very unlikely to be less than
Source: UK Climate Projections (UKCP09)
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Climate Change
The DECC public attitudes tracker
survey included a question on what the
biggest challenges facing Britain today
are, in waves 1 (March 2012), 5 (March
2013) and 9 (March 2014). The proportion
choosing climate change among the
top three challenges rose from 10%
in 2012 to 22% in 2014. However, the
proportion choosing climate change as
the single biggest challenge was much
lower, at 8% in 2014, compared to 30%
choosing unemployment as the top
challenge facing Britain.
In contrast, when asked specifically
about climate change, two-thirds of
people (68%) said they were either
very or fairly concerned about it. The
proportion who said they were very
concerned has increased by 2% from
the 2nd wave (June 2012) to the 9th
wave (March 2014) of the survey, as did
the proportion who said they were fairly
concerned. In 2014, 35% of respondents
thought climate change was mainly
or entirely caused by human activity
while 13% thought it was caused by
natural processes and 47% thought it
was a combination of human activity
and natural processes.
Table 7.2: Answers to ‘Which areas do you feel represent
the three biggest challenges that Britain is facing today?’
Mentioned in top three challenges
Area of Concern
Wave 1
Wave 5
Wave 9
Unemployment
76%
71%
60%
National Health Service
44%
48%
51%
Inflation/rising prices
45%
42%
36%
Energy supply
16%
26%
31%
Crime/law and order
36%
31%
30%
Education
25%
25%
29%
Climate change
10%
17%
22%
Level of taxation
27%
23%
20%
National security/defence
10%
8%
10%
Don't know
2%
2%
2%
2,121
2,051
2,040
Base
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) public attitudes tracker survey
Table 7.3: Answers to ‘How concerned, if at
all, are you about current climate change?’
Wave 5
Wave 9
Very concerned
20%
20%
22%
Fairly concerned
45%
46%
47%
Not very concerned
23%
23%
22%
Not at all concerned
11%
10%
9%
1%
1%
1%
2,100
2,051
2,040
Don't know
Base
of people feel that
climate change is
one of the three
biggest challenges
facing Britain today
Other answers were
far more popular
however:
job
centre
plus
60%
51%
said the NHS
36%
said inflation
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) tracker survey
[email protected]
22%
said unemployment
Wave 2
Level of concern
Environment
West Sussex County Council
West Sussex Life 2014
123
An estimated 5.01 million tonnes of CO2
were emitted in West Sussex in 2012,
equivalent to 6.2 tonnes per person. By
comparison, there were 6.7 tonnes of CO2
emissions per person in the South East,
and 7.0 tonnes per person for the whole
of England. CO2 emissions increased by
5.0% from 2011 to 2012 in West Sussex, in
West Sussex Life 2014
5,015
2012
2011
4,774
5,189
2010
2009
2008
4,987
5,413
5,567
5,672
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change, Local authority CO2 emissions
Figure 7.9: Per capita CO2 emissions
by district, tonnes per person, 2012
Industry & Commercial
Adur
1.4
Arun
1.4
2.1
2.3
Horsham
Mid Sussex
Worthing
1.8
1.5
5.1
2.7
2.6
1.8
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.1
2.2
1.0
6.8
6.2
4.6
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change, Local authority CO2 emissions
West Sussex County Council
8.1
7.1
2.3
2.3
Totals
Transport
5.1
1.4
3.1
Crawley
Domestic
1.6
2.8
Chichester
Performance
124
2007
DECC statistics treat emissions from
the energy industry differently from all
other emissions. For the energy industry,
emissions are distributed according to the
point of energy consumption. Emissions
that are not related to the energy industry
are distributed according to the point
of emission, for instance emissions from
manufacturing are allocated to where the
activity takes place rather than where the
end product is consumed.
Kilotonnes CO2
2006
The Department of Energy & Climate Change
(DECC) compiles an annual inventory of UK
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order
to monitor progress against domestic and
international targets. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
is the main greenhouse gas, accounting for
about 82 per cent of UK greenhouse gas
emissions in 2012. Increasing emphasis is
being placed on the role of regional bodies
and local government in contributing to
reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
Figure 7.8: Total CO2 emissions by
year in West Sussex, 2005-2012
5,701
Description
Carbon Emissions
2005
Environment
line with regional and national increases.
The main drivers of this were an increase
in domestic gas use due to 2012 being
colder than 2011 and increased use of coal
for electricity generation. However, West
Sussex CO2 emissions in 2012 represented
a decrease of over 650,000 tonnes (-12.0%)
since 2005 when the first local authority
estimates were produced.
Just over a third of all CO2 emissions in
West Sussex (36.7%) were generated by
the domestic sector, with a relatively even
split between electricity and gas, as well as
a much smaller amount from other fuels
(mostly in rural areas). Just under a third
of all emissions (32.6%) were generated
by the industry & commercial sector, and
the remaining 30.6% were generated by
transport within the county.
There are significant variations in the
amount of CO2 emissions per person by
district in West Sussex, with Chichester
having the highest level of CO2 emissions at
8.1 tonnes per person in 2012, and Worthing
having the lowest level of emissions at
4.6 tonnes per person. Chichester has the
highest domestic and transport sector
emissions per person, while Crawley has
the highest industry and commercial sector
emissions. Rural districts tend to have
higher levels of transport emissions per
person, the exception to this rule among
the urban districts being Crawley where
the figures include emissions from Gatwick
Airport.
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Energy Consumption
In addition to emissions statistics, the
DECC also publish energy consumption
figures at a local authority level, for four
main fuel categories:
• Gas
• Electricity
• Road transport fuels (petroleum
products)
• Other
fuels
(includes
coal,
manufactured fuels, bioenergy &
waste)
These four datasets are aggregated to
comprise a dataset for total final energy
consumption. Sub-national consumption
does not include fuels consumed in the
generation of electricity as well as fuel
consumed by very large industrial users.
Performance
An estimated total of 16,327 gigawatt
hours (GWh) of energy was consumed in
2012 in West Sussex, a decrease of 16.1%
from 2005. Of this, 41% of energy came
from petroleum products, including
petrol and diesel used in transport, 36%
came from gas and 21% was electricity.
Fuels used in the generation of electricity
are not included.
Chichester district consumed the most
energy at 2,999 GWh in 2012, followed by
Horsham and Mid Sussex.
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Figure 7.10: Total energy consumed by
fuel type in West Sussex, 2005-2012
Domestic Electricity
kWh per household
20,000
Gigawatt Hours (GWh) consumed
Description
Environment
Other
15,000
Electricity
10,000
Chichester
5,430
Horsham
4,977
Gas
Mid Sussex
Petroleum
products
5,000
0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change, Sub-national energy consumption statistics
Figure 7.11: Energy consumed by
district in West Sussex, 2012
GWh
consumed
2,515
2,958
4,299
Adur
4,192
Worthing
4,093
3,829
2,894
2,386
1,561
1,014
Adur
Arun
Crawley
2,999
4,604
For Commercial &
Industrial users, the
average was
57,400 kWh
Arun
Chichester
Crawley
Horsham
Mid Sussex Worthing
per meter
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change, Sub-national energy consumption statistics
West Sussex County Council
West Sussex Life 2014
125
Environment
Energy Consumption
An estimated
46,630
households in West
Sussex are not
connected to the
mains gas network
Figure 7.13: Domestic electricity and
gas consumption by LSOA, 2012
By consuming sector, 37.5% of energy
consumed in West Sussex during 2011
was consumed by the domestic sector,
32.9% by the transport sector (public,
private and commercial) and 29.6% by
the industry & commercial sector.
Consumption of domestic electricity
per meter (typically one meter per
household) is highest in rural areas,
particularly in the north of Chichester and
Horsham districts, and lowest in urban
areas such as Worthing and Crawley.
Electricity
East Grinstead
Crawley
Similarly, domestic gas consumption
per meter is also highest in rural areas,
particularly in Horsham and Mid Sussex.
Some areas of the county have no mains
gas availability, including rural parts of
Chichester, Horsham and Mid Sussex
districts. These are generally the least
densely populated parts of the county,
with residents relying on alternatives
such as oil, electricity, Liquid Petroleum
Gas (LPG) or heating from renewable
sources.
Figure 7.12: Energy consumed
by sector in West Sussex, 2012
32.9%
29.6%
Domestic
Transport
37.5%
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change
Gas
East Grinstead
Crawley
Horsham
Horsham
Haywards
Heath
Haywards
Heath
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill
Chichester
Littlehampton
Worthing
Industry &
Commercial
Shoreham
by-Sea
Bognor Regis
kWh per meter
2,538 - 3,836
3,837 - 4,383
4,384 - 5,284
5,285 - 6,660
6,661 - 8,920
Chichester
Littlehampton
Bognor Regis
Worthing
Shoreham
by-Sea
kWh per meter
7,862 - 11,199
11,199 - 13,177
13,177 - 15,624
15,624 - 19,175
19,175 - 31,183
Source: Department of Energy & Climate Change, Sub-national energy consumption statistics
126
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West Sussex County Council
[email protected]
Waste
Description
There are many different types of waste,
but in general, waste comes from the
following ‘streams’:
• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): waste
disposed of by residents, such as
household waste and waste from
public bins. It accounts for about 22%
of all waste generated in West Sussex.
• Commercial and Industrial (C&I):
waste from shops, industrial and
business premises, accounting for
about 30% of waste in West Sussex.
• Construction,
Demolition
and
Excavation Waste (CDEW): 75% of
which is inert material such as soils,
concrete, and rubble. It accounts for
about 48% of waste in West Sussex.
• Special/Hazardous: waste which has
hazardous properties or requires
specialist disposal. Accounts for only
a small proportion of total waste, and
is included within the C&I and CDEW
streams. Most hazardous waste
generated in West Sussex is exported.
Within West Sussex there are a number
of organisations that are involved in
waste collection, disposal and planning.
Collection of municipal waste is the
responsibility of the seven district
& borough councils, disposal is the
responsibility of West Sussex County
Council, and waste planning is a joint
responsibility between the County
Council and the South Downs National
Park (SDNP) Authority. The majority of
Commercial and Industrial waste and
Construction, Demolition and Excavation
Waste is collected and disposed of by
the private sector, although some is also
collected by district & borough councils
and disposed of by the County Council.
The West Sussex Waste Local Plan,
adopted in April 2014, sets out a vision
for ‘zero waste to landfill by 2031’ and
describes how this will be achieved
through more sustainable waste disposal
methods. Key to achieving this vision is
the provision of new facilities to maximise
opportunities to reuse, compost, recycle,
and treat waste, as well as reducing the
amount of waste generated in all streams.
municipal waste has decreased for the
last six years consecutively, down from
465,897 tonnes in 2006/07.
44.1% of municipal waste was recycled,
reused or composted in 2012/13, 37.9%
was sent to landfill and 17.7% was
incinerated. Incinerating waste provides
an opportunity to derive Energy from
Waste (EfW) in the form of electricity
or heat; in West Sussex, all incinerated
waste is processed in this way.
Figure 7.14: Method of waste
disposal in West Sussex, 2012/13
0.3%
37.9%
44.1%
17.7%
• Agricultural Waste: mostly manure,
slurry, or straw. No data is published
for agricultural waste in West Sussex.
• Wastewater: the majority of sewage
is reused through spreading on farm
land, with much of the remainder
incinerated. No data is published for
waste water in West Sussex.
[email protected]
Performance
A total of 413,553 tonnes of municipal
waste was disposed of by West Sussex
County Council in 2012/13, a decrease
of 2.8% from the previous year. Total
Landfill
Incineration with EfW
Recycled/composted
Other
Source: Defra, LA collected waste annual results
West Sussex County Council
Environment
Total waste disposed
of by West Sussex
County Council:
2005/06
457K
2006/07
466K
2007/08
464K
2008/09
441K
2009/10
436K
2010/11
433K
2011/12
426K
2012/13
414K
413,553 tonnes in
2012/13 represents a
decrease of
11%
from 2006/07
West Sussex Life 2014
127
Environment
Waste disposal in
West Sussex 2012/13:
44%
recycled
Waste
The proportion of waste sent to
landfill has decreased steadily from
67.2% in 2005/06 to 37.9% in 2012/13,
with corresponding increases in the
proportion of waste recycled, reused
or composted as well as the proportion
incinerated.
The proportion of municipal waste
recycled, reused or composted also
varies significantly by district, from
26.1% of waste in Crawley to 52.5%
Figure 7.16: Proportion of municipal
waste recycled by district, 2012/13
Adur
36.6%
18%
Crawley
Worthing
incinerated with EfW
128
West Sussex Life 2014
Landfill
100%
75%
50%
25%
26.1%
0%
2005/06
52.5%
Horsham
Mid Sussex
Incineration with EfW
38.5%
Chichester
sent to landfill
Recycled/composted
33.3%
Arun
38%
Figure 7.15: Method of municipal waste
disposal in West Sussex, 2005 - 2013
41.0%
34.1%
Source: Defra, LA collected waste annual results
West Sussex County Council
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
Source: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, LA collected waste annual results
of waste in neighbouring Horsham
district.
This covers only the waste that is
collected by district & borough councils
in their capacity as waste collection
authorities. Most districts are below the
44.1% of total municipal waste recycled
across West Sussex, as the overall
county figure is raised by a higher rate
of recycling for waste collected through
household waste recycling sites (which
are operated by the County Council and
hence do not appear in district figures).
[email protected]
Flood Risk
Description
The risk of flooding is an important
issue across West Sussex. Large parts
of the county are low-lying and many
of our towns and villages are located
near rivers. As a result the county is
vulnerable to flooding from the sea,
rivers, groundwater and surface water
following heavy rainfall.
Environment
Figure 7.17: Flood
risk in West Sussex
West Sussex County Council is the Lead
Local Flood Authority, and is responsible
for producing the Local Flood Risk
Management Strategy, which sets out
how the County Council will operate its
flood risk responsibilities.
Performance
Analysis of flood risk data has identified
‘wet spots’ prone to surface water
flooding across the county. The wet
spots represent areas where over 500
properties are at risk of flooding. Parts of
Worthing, Shoreham and Crawley have
been identified as having over 5,000
properties at risk.
In total, 76,600 residential properties
and 20,100 businesses are within surface
water flood risk areas. According to the
Environment Agency, 15,000 residential
properties and 3,000 businesses are
within areas at risk from rivers or sea
flooding also.
[email protected]
Source: West Sussex County Council, Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, 2014
West Sussex County Council
West Sussex Life 2014
129
Environment
Description
West Sussex has a rich and diverse
natural environment. Despite the
presence of some large urban centres the
Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra) classify the county as
‘significantly rural’.
A large part of the county lies within the
South Downs National Park. There are
two large ‘areas of outstanding natural
beauty’ (AONBs) - the High Weald in the
northeast of the county and Chichester
Harbour in the southwest.
Local Sites in Positive
Conservation Management
Local Sites
in PCM
70%
Natural Environment
In addition to these large areas many
more small areas are designated as Sites of
Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs)
and Regionally Important Geological
or Geomorphological Sites (RIGGS).
Collectively these are known as ‘Local
Sites’ and many of them are under active
‘positive conservation management’. The
County Council also monitors agricultural
land quality, and the quality of bodies of
fresh water.
Performance
The portion of the South Downs National
Park that lies within West Sussex covers
811 square kilometres. The two AONBs
cover 260 square kilometres. This means
over half (53%) of the total land area of
the county is designated as being of
outstanding natural character.
Figure 7.19: River and lake
water body status, 2012
Source: West Sussex County Council, 2014
2%
Local Sites
not in PCM
17%
12%
Good
Moderate
17%
Poor
Unknown
69%
13%
Bad
Source: West Sussex County Council, 2012
130
West Sussex Life 2014
Figure 7.18: Areas of outstanding natural beauty and local
sites of nature conservation or geological importance
West Sussex County Council
In total 363 areas are designated as Sites
of Nature Conservation Importance
and 60 areas are designated as
Regionally Important Geological or
Geomorphological Sites.
Together, as ‘Local Sites’ 69.7% are under
‘Positive Conservation Management’
(PCM) meaning that active steps are
taken by the county council and other
bodies to maintain their diversity and
natural character. 17.4% are not under
PCM and the status of a further 12.9% is
not known.
Natural water sources including lakes
and rivers in West Sussex are monitored
for their ecological qualities. 12% of all
rivers and lakes in the county have been
designated as being of good ecological
quality, while the majority, 69% are
designated as moderate quality, and 19%
poor or bad quality.
[email protected]
Geology
Description
The geology of West Sussex is
predominately clay in the north and a
mixture of chalk and clay in the south
of the county. The chalk ridge of the
South Downs runs east/west across the
southern half of the county, and north of
this the Weald is predominantly made up
of a mixture of clays, silts and sandstone.
. Figure 7.21: Approximate quantities
Figure 7.20: Mineral
resources in West Sussex
of quarried minerals
Sandstone
2%
Brick clay
26%
Historically, the majority of sedimentary
deposits within the county have been
worked for specific minerals including
ironstone, brick and tile clays, cement
raw materials, agricultural lime, building
stone and aggregate. Major extractive
industries which still exist in the county
include:
• Aggregates taken from the gravel
deposits of the Sussex Coastal Plain
around Chichester. This industry
constitutes a locally important source
of aggregates.
• Sand from deposits across the centre
of the county, which supplies Sussex
and parts of Hampshire with building
and concreting sand.
• Clay deposits in the north east of the
county, used to manufacture bricks
and tiles used in large volumes across
south east England.
• Chalk and sandstone, both worked
on a smaller scale following declines
in these industries locally.
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Environment
Chalk
1%
Sand and
gravel
71%
Source: West Sussex County Council, 2011
Figure 7.22: Destinations
of dredged aggregates
Eastern
Channel
2%
Source: West Sussex County Council, 2014
Performance
Over 70% of the minerals extracted in
West Sussex are sand and gravel. This is
used in the construction industry, mostly
within the county, but also contributing
6% to the total regional supply. Clay for
brick and tile making makes up about
a quarter of all extractions, which is far
more significant regionally. Brick clay
produced in West Sussex accounts for
46% of the regional supply and 4.3% of
the total English supply.
Sandstone accounts for only 2% of
mineral extraction, but due to a lack of
alternative aggregates, it contributes
97% of the regional production. Chalk is
now only used locally in the production
of agricultural lime, with much of the
regional supply coming from Kent.
63% of aggregates dredged from the
English Channel off West Sussex are
delivered to local ports. 18% are destined
for the Thames Estuary and 16% go to
the Continent.
West Sussex County Council
East Coast
1%
Continent
16%
Thames
Estuary
18%
South
Coast
63%
Source: West Sussex County Council, 2011
West Sussex Life 2014
131
Environment
Further Information
To access other chapters and data from West Sussex Life
www.westsussex.gov.uk/westsussexlife2014
Met Office Regional Climate Data
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/datasets
UK Climate Projections (UKCP09)
http://ukclimateprojections.metoffice.gov.uk/
Sustainability and Climate Change in West Sussex
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/living/environment_and_planning/sustainability_and_climate.aspx#
Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) statistics
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/about/statistics
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) statistics
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics?departments%5B%5D=department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Recycling in West Sussex
http://www.recycleforwestsussex.org/
West Sussex Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/living/environment_and_planning/managing_flood_risk/local_flood_risk_management_st.aspx#
UK-AIR: Air Information Resource
http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/
132
West Sussex Life 2014
West Sussex County Council
[email protected]