Leeds waste firm secures contract for ‘transformation’ of Sunderland site

A Yorkshire-based waste firm has secured a contract to clear an abandoned waste site in Sunderland ahead of its transformation into a manufacturing facility.

Acumen Waste Services has been contracted by Sunderland City Council to clear and remediate the former Alex Smiles waste site.

The site, which has been vacant since Alex Smiles went into administration in 2015, is set to become home to a new facility for maritime crane manufacturer Liebherr.

Acumen, which is headquartered in Leeds, will work to remove around 20,000 tonnes of residual waste from the site, which caught fire in May 2018 and took more than three weeks to extinguish.

Andy Crossley, managing director of Acumen Waste Services, commented: “We are delighted to have been selected by the council to carry out this high-profile project on this derelict site.

“We look forward to working closely with the Council, the EA and Liebherr to ensure that the works are completed safely and compliantly. As a business founded over 25 years ago in the North East, we’re pleased to be playing our part in aiding the transformation.

“My team will be working very closely with the Council and [Environment Agency] to ensure the works are completed in a timely, yet safe manner.”

Council Leader, Cllr Graeme Miller, added: “I’m delighted to see work going ahead to clear this site which has been a blight on the city for a number of years.

“There is potential for some short-term disruption while work is underway. But we will be working to minimise the impact of this on local residents and businesses as much as possible and the end result should make it well worthwhile in the long term.”

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