Viridor, one of the UK’s leaders in resource recovery, is committed to transforming waste for a climate-positive future
As one of the leading innovators in resource recovery and recycling, and the largest UK operator of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities, Viridor stands as a good example of sustainable resource and waste management in action.
After reducing, reusing and recycling as much as possible, Viridor plays a vital role in recovering energy from the non-recycled waste that we all contribute to daily – transforming waste for a climate positive future.
Energy from Waste (EfW) is a critical part of the UK’s infrastructure, in which non-recycled waste is burnt to produce electricity while also saving tons of material from going to landfill. Viridor’s network of 11 Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs) – with another soon to be brought into operation – runs 24/7, contributing to the UK’s energy grid needs. “In simple terms, this translates to constantly powering the equivalent of around 800,000 homes across the country with heat and electricity,” says Tim Rotheray, Chief Sustainability Officer.
The process consists of waste incineration at high temperatures under carefully controlled conditions, using a process that is extremely robust, and safe. These high temperatures are needed to break down pollutants in the waste. Any resulting emissions are treated to meet the stringent European Industrial Emissions Directive, with the process monitored carefully by relevant regulatory authorities.
Following the commencement of operations at the new Westfield ERF in Fife, further expansion is underway. Construction work at the Thameside ERF at Tilbury Docks is already underway, with a view to reaching commercial operation in 2028, and once operational, it will divert a further 350,000 tons of waste from landfill per year, generating enough energy to power the equivalent of almost 100,000 homes. The electricity generated will be fed into the National Grid and linked via underground cables to the Tilbury substation on the east side of the Docks.
“EfW really is critical to the UK – that is why we have already invested over £1.2 billion in the infrastructure, and positively, this has resulted in 3.5 million tons of waste being diverted away from landfill”, Tim states.
Through the process of turning waste into energy, EfW is also making a significant contribution to a more circular economy. This circular approach extends beyond energy recovery to address one of the more pressing waste challenges: plastic recycling.
In Skive, Denmark, Viridor is transforming the recycling landscape at its Quantafuel site, where is it innovating the chemical recycling of plastic waste – a process called Plastics-to-Liquids – to transform those hard-to-recycle plastics into oils for new plastic production. And at another site in Esbjerg, Quantafuel is building one of Europe’s most advanced plastic sortation and processing facilities designed to handle 160,000 tons of plastic waste annually. 
These innovations are reflective of Viridor’s broader ESG strategy, which serves as the blueprint for how to deliver on its purpose – to build a world where nothing goes to waste.
Viridor has created a roadmap to becoming a net zero business by 2040, and climate positive by 2045 – leading the EfW sector in its bold ambitions.
Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) is another technology that Viridor has been working on – an initiative supported by the UK government. When operated in conjunction with EfW, CCUS could contribute 27 percent of the UK’s 2035 greenhouse gas removals target, enabling a carbon neutral electricity board.
Tim elaborates: “EfW has already cuts greenhouse gas emissions from waste sector by avoiding landfill. This has contributed to the 60 percent emissions reduction in the sector since 1990. Carbon capture along with increased plastics recycling, enables waste treatment to end its contribution to climate change and start to help reverse those effects through carbon dioxide removals.”
Through its comprehensive approach, from operating the UK’s largest EfW network to pioneering carbon capture technology and scaling chemical recycling, Viridor shows how the waste sector can become a cornerstone of climate action.
Tim concludes: “We’re not just managing waste – tackling climate change is the defining issue of our generation and we are proud to be leading the way for the sector, creating a world where nothing goes to waste.”