The incident occurred at the MRF at Old Wolverton, run on behalf of Milton Keynes council. Thames Valley Police was called to the site shortly before 5.30pm on Monday evening.
The 42-year-old male employee has not yet been named publicly, but his family have been informed, according to Viridor.
A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious. She said: “We received a report of an unexplained death at a recycling plant in Colts Holm Road, Old Wolverton. Officers and the ambulance service attended the scene where a man, aged in his forties, was found deceased.
“His next of kin and The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has been informed. The death is being treated as unexplained but not believed to be suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed that it is assisting Thames Valley Police with its inquiries into the incident. HM Coroner’s Office, Milton Keynes, is also to open an inquiry into the incident at 10am tomorrow morning (11 August).
Inquiries
A spokesman for the HSE said: “The Health and Safety Executive has been on site and we are working with Thames Valley Police to assist with their inquiries.”
Viridor added that is working closely with the authorities to assist with inquiries into the incident. Counselling support is also being offered to staff at the site.
In a statement, Viridor chief executive Ian McAulay, said: “The entire team are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our colleague. Our thoughts are with him, his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.”
The Old Wolverton MRF was originally opened by Community Waste Recycling in 1993, but taken over by Viridor in 2011.
Viridor sorts waste at the site on behalf of Milton Keynes council, with whom Community Waste Recycling signed a 15-year contract with worth to sort dry recyclables from the borough in December 2009. The site is capable of handling 100,000 tonnes of material per year.
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