The Slough-based Lakeside Energy from Waste facility – a joint venture between Grundon Waste Management and Viridor – is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week, confident that it is maintaining – if not exceeding – the extremely high standards it set out for itself nearly two decades ago.
Over the last decade, the award-winning Lakeside Energy from Waste facility has transformed 4.5 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste – which would otherwise have been sent to landfill – in to 3 million Megawatts of non-fossil fuel-derived energy.
Lakeside Operations Director Danny Coulston said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating our first operating decade, knowing that we run one of the best facilities in Europe. However, we don’t rest on our laurels and have invested more than £7.5 million to deliver a continuous improvement programme and ensure we always stay at the top of our game.”
Lakeside manages waste from 10 local authorities, including Slough Borough Council, West London Waste Authority and RE3 (a waste management partnership between Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils), as well as a significant volume of business from the commercial sector.
In March 2017, Lakeside announced it had achieved zero waste to landfill over an 18-month period – the first time a UK energy recovery facility had met – and continuously maintained – this 100% diversion from landfill target.
At Lakeside, 80,000 tonnes a year of bottom ash are transformed in to recycled aggregate by local company, Day Aggregates. Through a pioneering arrangement with carbon capture experts O.C.O Technology, Lakeside is recycling 100% of its Air Pollution Control residues – transforming it in to high quality, lightweight aggregate, which is used to create 12,500 tonnes a year of carbon negative building materials.
The Chairman of the Lakeside Board of Directors, Doug Benjafield, said: “Ten years ago – as a chemical engineer – I felt very proud and privileged to be asked to become the Chairman of the Lakeside Board. At the time, I believed the joint venture between two well established resource management companies, Grundon and Viridor, formed a superb team – benefitting the local community, the local environment and the local waste authorities. After 10 years of successful operation, I am delighted to say that is still the case.”
Chairman of joint-venture partner Grundon Waste Management, Norman Grundon, said: “Lakeside Energy from Waste has an excellent record of reliability and dependability. It has been instrumental in allowing local households and businesses to become more sustainable, by diverting non-recyclable waste – which would have otherwise been buried in landfill sites – and generating sustainable energy. This anniversary marks a significant milestone in the history of Lakeside and I look forward to it continuing to provide this service for many more years to come.”
Viridor Energy Managing Director Richard Pennells said: “Viridor is very proud of what has been accomplished through the joint venture at Lakeside. This energy from waste plant has been a real pioneer in our sector, demonstrating what can be accomplished through an investment in innovation and making a meaningful contribution to resource and energy efficiency. It has also played a significant role in raising awareness of recyclable and non-recyclable waste at its Education Centre.
“Viridor looks forward to replicating Lakeside’s success through its new joint venture with Grundon Waste Management at the new energy recovery facility planned in Ford, West Sussex.”