The Isle of Wight Council has finally commissioned its state-of-the-art energy recovery facility at Forest Road in Newport, some 8 years after work on the gasification plant began.
This cutting-edge site is set to transform the Island’s approach to waste management by converting all non-recyclable household waste into energy, marking a major milestone in the council’s environmental efforts.
The plant was originally due to start full-scale operations in May 2019, but this date was pushed back to January 2022 due to the pandemic and a number of other reasons. The completion of all relevant testing was then pushed back once again to July 2022. In August 2023, it was hoped that final testing would be completed that Autumn.
Now, nearly 6 years after the site was meant to be fully up and running, the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed it has successfully commissioned the plant which boasts an impressive annual processing capacity of 40,000 tonnes, generating enough electricity to power 7,000 homes.
This development not only addresses local energy needs but also significantly reduces the Island’s reliance on landfill, promoting a more responsible and efficient waste management system.
The facility features advanced energy recovery technology alongside a dedicated recycling unit, offering a comprehensive solution for sustainable waste management. These integrated processes ensure the recovery of valuable materials for recycling, further enhancing the Isle of Wight’s environmental footprint.
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment, and planning, has said:
“This is a proud moment for the Isle of Wight Council, as we deliver on our promise and vision for an on-island sustainable solution for waste, minimizing its carbon footprint and maximising value recovery.
Article continues below this advertisement “The successful commissioning of this plant highlights our dedication to innovation, environmental stewardship, and the communities we serve.”
Councillor Lora Pearcy Wilcox, Cabinet member for climate and biosphere, echoes this sentiment, celebrating the collaborative effort:
“This is a fabulous achievement of our waste team and our service provider.
“Delivering sustainable energy from non-recyclable waste will support the Island in self-sufficiency. I am looking forward to seeing the next steps for the waste service in opening the education facility and a reuse shop in the future.”
The ERF is operated by Thalia Waste Management on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council.
6 years late, so is it true recycling as not
been happening on the island all these years.
Have we just been practising ready for the big
opening.
This is PURE GREENWASH from the iow council. This will not be ‘environmentally friendly’ or produce ‘sustainable energy’ unless it is also equipped with technology designed to capture carbon and harmful chemicals. Burning ‘non-recylable’ waste (i.e. many types of plastic) only releases harmful chemicals into the air. It is in NO WAY a sustainable source of energy and will be TERRIBLE for the health of local people. SHAME on iow council!
The island will never be Green or Net Zero
there are too many inconsiderate B’stards
burning crap around the island.
NO ONE STOPS THEM!
Nearly everywhere you go on the island you can
see smoke burning in the distance.
This is an INCINERATOR. As shown on this BBC map
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgrl72e975o
The Smell is disgusting, takes your breath away very chemically smelling most likely plastics. Sometimes the smoke/smog fumes gets blow down in to the builders merchants next door. It’s leaving a sticky tar like dirt on the building of the builders merchant. Cant be good for the workers.
Are we going to be told how much this has cost, US, the tax payer? And how is it ‘a fabulous achievement of our waste team and service provider’? Presumably we’ve paid for it, and someone else has installed it.
Excellent ✅️ it will be interesting to see if there’s a noticeable improvement in the growth rate of the trees as photosynthesis converts the CO2 into increased growth and release oxygen
The only sensible way to store carbon – then it can become furniture and houses which lasts for a long time.
I find it very frustrating those people who want to bury the CO2 because for every carbon, they bury 2 oxygen, and that won’t be there to breathe or the food from the carbon to eat
I wonder how long it will last when lithium batteries find their way into it and explode/catch fire?
Happens regularly