Severnside energy recovery centre

SITA UK is a major provider of recycling and waste services in the South Gloucestershire and Bristol areas. Against a Government target of recycling at least 50 per cent of household waste by 2020, we already achieve outstanding recycling rates of 40 per cent in South Gloucestershire and 35 per cent in Bristol. We also work with commercial businesses from across the region to collect and recycle their waste.

Wherever we work we aim to first reduce the waste created, then reuse and recycle wherever possible. However, with over 800,000 tonnes of industrial and commercial waste being generated each year in the former Avon Council area, there remains a significant quantity of residual commercial waste that is not recycled and has traditionally been sent to landfill.

Landfill space is becoming increasingly scarce and, with landfill tax set to rise, SITA UK recognises that there is increasing need to look for alternatives – especially those which can turn residual waste into a valuable resource.

Energy recovery centres (ERC) can play an important role when it comes to disposing of residual waste by using as fuel that which is left over after recycling, burning it under controlled conditions to generate an important source of energy (as electricity and heat) and significantly reducing the amount of waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

The Severnside Energy Recovery Centre

Following a thorough investigation of potential locations, SITA UK identified a brownfield site adjacent to Seabank Power Station and the former Terra Nitrogen plant at Severnside, in South Gloucestershire, as a possible location for the development of an ERC.

Delivery of the proposed Severnside ERC would make a significant contribution to providing new treatment and recovery facilities to manage commercial and industrial waste from the former Avon County Council region.

Anticipated as being capable of processing up to 400,000 tonnes of non-recycled waste, the facility would have capacity to generate up to 32 megawatts of electricity – enough to power approximately of 50,000 homes, equivalent to half the homes in South Gloucestershire. As well as producing renewable energy, consent to build the Severnside ERC would also help boost the local economy by creating around 200 jobs during the construction phase and at least 46 full time jobs once the facility is in operation.

The planning application

Before finalising the planning application for the Severnside ERC, SITA UK delivered a wide-ranging consultation programme, including a public exhibition which was attended by over 140 people, many of whom took the opportunity to talk directly with members of SITA UK’s planning team and ask specific questions.

The consultation process has enabled SITA UK to identify several points of local interest, namely traffic, design of the building, and emissions associated with an ERC. All the feedback received has been thoroughly reviewed and, where possible, constructive comments, along with advice from organisations including the Highways and Environment agencies, have been taken on board to help shape the final planning application.

View a recent newsletter providing an overview of the consultation process and how this has informed SITA UK’s proposals for the Severnside ERC.

SITA UK has now submitted this planning application to South Gloucestershire Council who, after registering the application, will undertake a formal consultation process of its own during which time members of the public and organisations including the Environment, Highways and Health Protection Agencies will be invited to feed back comments on the plans. The council’s planning committee will take all relevant feedback into account when making its decision on the application sometime in 2010. You can view the planning application on the South Gloucestershire Council website.

Public consultation

To give you the opportunity to find out about the planning application in more detail and contribute to the formal consultation process South Gloucestershire Council will undertake, SITA UK invited local residents and members of the wider community to attend a public exhibition providing an overview of the final proposals for the Severnside ERC.

The public exhibitions took place in early December. If you were unable to attend the exhibition, copies of the material that were on display are available here.

A full Statement of Community Engagement (SCE) setting out how, when and where SITA UK consulted with local people in developing proposals for the Severnside ERC is included with the final planning application.

Contact us

SITA UK is committed to making sure local people are kept informed every step of the way throughout the planning process. If you have any questions or would like further information regarding proposals for the Severnside ERC, please contact us:

Call us on freephone: 0845 534 2123

Email: severnside-consultation@sita.co.uk

Freepost address: RRKG-AZTG-JLJX Camargue (SITA UK - Severnside), Eagle Tower, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham GL50 1TA