With its operators assuming control in January 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story), the facility has since turned 4.5 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste into three million megawatts of energy.
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.”
Waste
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.
It also conducts significant business with the commercial sector.
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.”
Aggregates
At the facility, 80,000 tonnes a year of bottom ash are transformed into recycled aggregate by Day Aggregates.
“This energy from waste plant has been a real pioneer in our sector”
Lakeside says it recycles 100% of its air pollution control residues as part of an arrangement with carbon capture specialists O.C.O Technology.
These residues are into a lightweight aggregate, which is used to create 12,500 tonnes a year of building materials.
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.”
Continuous improvement
Beset by technical problems that delayed its opening by more than two years (see letsrecycle.com story), the facility was formally opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in October 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Future plans for the plant include a like-for-like replacement for the facility at Colnbrook, with the existing building to be taken down for the accommodation of the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport (see letsrecycle.com story).
This project is dependent on planning permission being granted by Slough borough council.
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.”
Viridor and Grundon have plans to partner once again to run an energy from waste facility in West Sussex (see letsrecycle.com story).
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