SUEZ granted permission to build energy recovery centre in Darwen

If built, the energy recovery centre would take residual (left after recycling) black bag waste from homes and businesses across the region that would otherwise have gone to landfill and use it to generate electricity. The facility could process up to 500,000 tonnes of waste each year, enough to generate sustainable electricity for over 60,000 homes – the equivalent of every home in Blackburn with Darwen.

The construction of the facility is dependent on securing a contract to continue managing Lancashire’s residual (black bag) waste.

Today’s planning determination follows a lengthy public consultation process where local residents, businesses and community representatives were invited to view proposals and give their thoughts and suggestions. Suggestions were then reviewed and incorporated in to the design where appropriate, and subsequently submitted to the council’s planning committee for a decision.

SUEZ recycling and recovery UK employ almost 6,000 people in the UK and handles more than 10 million tonnes of waste each year. The company already runs eight energy recovery centres across the UK and has a strong track record of diverting waste from landfill.

Gary Mayson, Chief Operating Officer – Energy at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “We are delighted that Blackburn with Darwen Councillors have approved our application. The proposal to construct a high-tech energy recovery centre in Darwen could see up to half a million tonnes of waste diverted from landfill; the equivalent of over 60,000 homes powered by sustainable electricity; and up to 50 skilled and semi-skilled local jobs created.”