Local MP Mark Pawsey this week visited SUEZ’s Malpass Farm site in Rugby to discuss their role in generating energy from waste which would otherwise go to landfill.
Mark met with Dr Adam Read, SUEZ’s External Affairs Affairs Director, to see some of the improvements made to the plant to enable it to process more waste, increasing the efficiency of the site. Across the country, SUEZ handles over 11 million tonnes of waste and recyclable materials per year, collected from millions of households and thousands of companies. In Rugby, the vast majority of the residual waste which they collect is turned into a solid fuel which powers the nearby CEMEX cement plant as an alternative to coal.
SUEZ also undertakes wider work in terms of waste disposal and Mark was able to discuss with them the Government’s proposals for reducing waste, including introducing an extended producer responsibility scheme and more consistent collections of waste products. These changes will help to protect the environment by ensuring that less waste is delivered to landfill, and instead reused, recycled or recovered for energy production.
Speaking after visiting Malpass Farm, Mark commented:
“Reducing the amount of waste we create is a key part of how we will improve our environment, so it was very good to meet with Adam and the team at Malpass Farm in Rugby to find out how their work means less waste going to landfill. The connection between SUEZ at Malpass Farm and CEMEX just down the road is a great example of how innovative solutions can be found. Using waste by turning it into solid fuel for industrial processes such as cement production both reduces reliance on fossil fuels and prevents waste from ending up in the ground.”
Mark continued:
“It was also excellent to be able to discuss the improvements made to Malpass Farm, particularly in terms of limiting the impact on local residents. I was also very keen to speak to Adam about the proposals the Government are bringing forward to reduce waste and ensure that more is recycled.”
Dr Adam Read, External Affairs Director, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK added:
“I was delighted to host a visit with Mark and some of his team at our Malpass Farm solid recovered fuel facility in Rugby. As he had visited the facility before, it was good to be able to show him some of the initiatives we have introduced to ensure we continually improve the process and play our part as a good neighbour to the local community. It was also an ideal opportunity to discuss the upcoming resource and waste policy reforms and it was encouraging to hear that Mark is a big supporter of better labelling and consistent collections to help improve recycling rates across the country.”