During England’s biggest celebration of culture and heritage, members of the public are invited to explore what happens to their non-recyclable household waste – and find out how it is turned into energy.
On Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September 2018, Lakeside Energy from Waste at Colnbrook, Slough, will be offering behind the scenes tours of the process, which generates enough electricity to power all the homes in Slough.
Jessica Baker-Pike, the Lakeside Education Officer, who will be running the tours at Lakeside Energy from Waste, says,
“The National Trust’s Heritage Open Day celebration is a fantastic opportunity to explore the local area at a much deeper level.
“After we have put our black bins and bags out on collection day, most of us probably breathe a sigh of relief and think no more about what happens to the contents. So visiting Lakeside Energy from Waste is a great chance to find out why it is really important to put the right stuff in the right bin.
“Without Lakeside, most of the waste from Slough, Hillingdon and other areas would be sent to landfill sites, which produce gases which damage the environment. Instead, the site generates green energy and doesn’t even produce any waste of its own. Everything that isn’t turned in to energy is recycled.”
You’ll be able to explore the stunning Education Centre – which is in the middle of a lake. Then you will be asked to put on the special safety uniform before going on a tour to see the process in action.
You’ll visit the control room and watch the giant, arcade style grabs drop, mix up and inspect the weight of an adult Tyrannosaurus Rex’s worth of rubbish. This is the start of the process of turning the household waste in to energy.
Despite its tranquil appearance, the modern, award winning Lakeside Energy from Waste complex is just off the M25 and M4, close to Heathrow Terminal 5.