By Mya Driver, Marketing Executive at UKREiiF

Sustainability has become an essential aspect of our lives, prompting individuals and businesses alike to take steps towards minimising their environmental impact.

As part of our commitment to achieving ISO 20121 Sustainable Events Management Accreditation, we recently embarked on an eye-opening visit to the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) in Leeds, guided by the belief that responsible waste management is crucial in shaping a greener future.

“Why did you go to a waste facility…?” I hear you ask,

It might sound a bit weird…

But it’s because we ensure 0% of our waste goes to landfill – we recycle as much as possible but in the office and at the New Dock venue for UKREiiF, whilst all of the items that cannot be recycled are sent by our selected waste management company to the Leeds Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility.

What is RERF?

The Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility is located just outside of Leeds City Centre and is operated by Veolia.

Veolia is a global force in Ecological Transformation and boasts a remarkable workforce of nearly 179,000 employees worldwide! Specialising in water, waste, and energy management, the group pioneers game-changing, practical solutions that make a real difference.

RERF has been purposefully engineered to separate recyclable waste from our general waste bins, and harness energy from the remaining materials – in simple terms 0% of waste goes to landfill and instead it generates energy.

Our Visit – And How RERF Generates Energy From Our Waste…

If you’re local to the city of Leeds, you’ll instantly recognise the huge building in the middle of the Cross Green Industrial Estate with the giant green living wall.

As the team approached the RERF, the sight of the massive facility was awe-inspiring. Nestled amidst the industrial park, the building’s design seemed to complement the surrounding nature rather than disrupting it. We were greeted by our enthusiastic guide, Simon, who explained the facility’s purpose and the groundbreaking technologies in use.

Simon guided us through the visitor centre took us through the visitor centre and led us to a specially designed room utilised for tours and educational visits. Following a short health and safety briefing, Simon delved into the history of RERF and then proceeded to illustrate the entire journey of the waste passing through the facility, from start to finish.

  • The RERF treats all of Leeds’ general waste, which sits currently at an average of 170,000 tonnes each year.
  • After collection, the waste is shredded, and metals are mechanically removed and recycled.
  • The remaining waste goes into the ‘Storage Bunker’ before undergoing a specialised combustion process via a feed hopper.
  • The resulting steam (generated from the energy created in the combustion process converting water in the boiler tubes to steam) is used to drive a turbine generator producing electricity.
  • Excess electricity is sent to the National Grid and excess heat is supplied to Leeds City Council’s District Heating Network.
  • The RERF can power up to 22,000 homes via the National Grid on an annual basis!
  • The RERF doesn’t stop there…the resulting ash at the bottom of the furnace is taken off site and used as road aggregate as well as being able to be made into breeze blocks.
  • The Leeds RERF makes a direct and significant contribution to climate change through diverting Leeds’ waste that was previously sent to landfill…using state of the art technology to separate and sort waste also has the benefits of: Preserving natural resources, protecting biodiversity and combating climate change and raising environmental awareness through the educational work at the facility.

After this presentation, Simon took us on a tour of the building…hard hats and high-visibility jackets on, the team were ready to see where the magic happens!

Viewing firsthand the process in which our waste takes when arriving at the facility was an eye-opening experience for all involved. The mass of the piles of waste ready to be sorted and then stored in the bunker, until ready to be incinerated, were incomprehensibly large – and to think that, before the RERF facility opened in 2016, all of this waste would end up in a landfill!

For the team, visiting the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility only took a couple of hours out of their working day, and the results were fantastic.

After the visit, the team shared that it had a profound impact on their perspective of recycling. They expressed how it shifted their understanding, emphasizing that recycling is not solely an individual responsibility but a collective obligation to ensure everyone plays a part in preserving our environment.

Our pursuit of ISO 20121 Sustainable Events Managements Accreditation has been invigorated, knowing that sustainability is not just an abstract concept but a tangible goal that can be achieved through concerted efforts. As we take the lessons learned from the RERF, we are determined to make a positive impact, adopting responsible waste management practices that align with our ISO 20121 goals and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable planet.

For more details contact: [email protected]