SUEZ and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority celebrate key milestone
SUEZ manages Merseyside and Halton’s residual waste on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority. Residual waste from across the region arrives at the rail transfer loading station in Kirkby, Knowsley, where it is compacted into rail containers and sent by rail to the Wilton energy-from-waste facility in Teesside to generate electricity – enough electricity to power over 63,000 homes.
The 100,000th container arrived at the rail transfer loading station on the morning of 01 September 2020. Since contract start in 2013, over 1.3million tonnes of residual waste has been transported by over 1,700 trains to the Wilton facility.
Transporting the waste by rail saves the equivalent of 1,000 HGV journeys and offsets around 127,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
Cllr Tony Concepcion, MRWA Chairperson, said: “Our partnership with SUEZ enables us to provide a sustainable and cost-effective service to our council partners and the residents of Merseyside and Halton. By utilising household waste that cannot currently be recycled, we’re able to produce valuable electricity that’s put back into the National Grid and can potentially power up to 63,000 homes.”
Steve Sharkey, SUEZ’s Senior Operations Manager at the rail transfer loading station, said: “The entire team ought to be proud of themselves — this really is an excellent achievement in what has been a challenging year for everyone.”
The rail transfer loading station in Kirkby employs 33 people and has created a number of apprenticeship opportunities. As part of the 30-year contract with the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, SUEZ has established a £50,000-a-year fund for community groups closest to the rail transfer loading station.
