Information about this scheme

The Suffolk Energy-from-Waste facility provides an alternative to landfill by generating electricity from household and business waste. A Bottom Ash Recovery Facility cleans the resulting ash on site, which is then exported as raw materials for sale or reuse as building products. The facility stands as a striking innovation in industrial architecture and creates a balance between infrastructure, nature and community with a state-of-the-art visitors’ centre and considered bio-diversity on site that complements its sensitive setting, and challenges the traditional perception of buildings of this type. The scheme is rated BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and is capable of processing 269,000 tonnes of domestic waste per annum from the Suffolk region, generating 20MW of electricity; enough to power 30,000 local homes, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75,000 tonnes per annum. A considerable effort to ensure that local labour was employed wherever possible during construction saw over 100 local firms win contracts, worth around £13.5 million, to supply goods and services to the site. The local community also benefit from support and donations from the SITA Trust which provides funding for community and environmental improvement projects within a three mile radius of the site. Over half a million pounds has been given to Suffolk projects in the last four years.