Commissioning tests to put the Beddington Energy Recovery Facility through its paces before opening for business next year

The Beddington Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) is entering its commissioning phase, ahead of the facility opening for business in summer 2018.

Over the next few months, the newly-constructed, state-of-the-art facility will be put through its paces; numerous in-depth tests will be carried out to make sure it is operating safely and in accordance with its environmental permit.

A small number of these tests may involve noises being heard around the perimeter of the site and, depending on weather conditions, local residents may occasionally see plumes of steam coming from the facility for short periods of time.  All these tests will be carried out safely and in accordance with the Construction Environmental Management Plan that was agreed during the planning approval process.

A newsletter providing more detail on the commissioning phase and the tests that will be carried out is being delivered to around 14,500 households in the Beddington and surrounding areas this week (an electronic copy of the newsletter can be viewed here).

Once fully up and running, the Beddington ERF will treat 95% of the residual household waste from the four boroughs that make up the South London Waste Partnership (Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton).  The waste will be turned into electricity and fed into the National Grid, instead of being buried in landfill, as the majority of it is today.  The facility will produce enough electricity to power itself plus around 30,000 homes.  It will cut carbon emissions by 128,000 tonnes per year, when compared to the existing landfill operation.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, Chair of the South London Waste Partnership Joint Committee and Sutton Council’s Environment and Neighbourhood Committee said:

“The Beddington ERF construction project is going to plan and is on time.  This commissioning phase is the final important step to ensure the complex processes and systems that have been built to treat our residual waste safely are operating correctly.  Once the commissioning phase is complete, the ERF will start providing local residents with a safe, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to landfill.”

The Beddington ERF will be operated by Viridor, who won a contract to treat residual household waste from the South London Waste Partnership in 2012.

Rob Tubb, Project Director for Viridor, said:

“The commissioning phase is a major milestone, with the facility nearing completion.  We will be working with our construction partners on site to minimise any inconvenience or concern caused by the numerous tests that need to be carried out over the next few months.  The vast majority will go completely unnoticed by anyone outside the site.  But there are a relatively small number of tests that are expected to produce noise or small plumes of steam that may be seen or heard by members of the public.  If any local resident does have questions or concerns about these tests, I would encourage them to contact us through the various communication channels available.”

There are many ways residents can contact Viridor if they have any questions or concerns about the commissioning phase:

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.viridor.co.uk/feedback

Twitter: @TalkERF_SLondon

Telephone: 0800 975 3029

Write to: Viridor Communications, 105 Beddington Lane, Beddington, Sutton, CR0 4TD

Other work being carried out on site over the winter period includes construction of the Visitor Centre, which will welcome community groups, school children and local residents on pre-arranged visits to the site.  It will enable local people to explore the fascinating history of the Beddington Farmlands site as well as learn more about the importance of waste minimisation and the role of energy recovery from waste.

For more information on the Beddington ERF, visit www.viridor.co.uk/beddington-erf

Ends.