Rainham Planning Update
Our busy site at Coldharbour Lane in Rainham currently has:
- A Landfill operation accepting non-hazardous and non recyclable waste
- A Material Recovery Facility (MRF) sorting mixed recyclables collected from local households and businesses, including plastics, glass, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, cardboard and paper
- A Plastic Recycling Facility (PRF) sorting plastics collected from households and businesses across the UK, including those separated by the adjacent MRF
- A Road Sweeping Processing Plant extracting precious metals and treating the residue
- A screening operation for soils
- A Methane Gas and Leachate Treatment Plant supporting the landfill operation
- A Composting Facility processing green and garden waste
Here is an overview of our current activities and upcoming plans for this busy site:
Material and Plastics Recovery Facilities
Permission to redevelop and expand the existing MRF and PRF facilities was granted on 20th January 2025, subject to a legal agreement (section 106).
Landfill Operations
On 9th December 2024, we submitted a planning application (Planning Reference P1633.24) to vary the current landfill planning permission by extending the operation of the landfill beyond the end of 2024 for a further 5 years, followed by a 2 year period of restoration. The restoration period will see Veolia fill the void space and improve settlement areas on the landfill site Then longer term plans to create an amenity space with the land will be able to progress.
The need to extend the landfill operations is to deliver a suitable land form that will ensure that appropriate environmental management can continue after restoration in line with the environmental permit.
Gas and Leachate Treatment Compound
In May 2023 we made an application to retain and continue operation of the existing gas and leachate treatment plant compound at the landfill, beyond the end of 2024 (Planning Reference P0718.23). These are essential to retain to manage and monitor the landfill gas and leachate generated by the landfill beyond the restoration period.
Road Sweepings Facility
A planning application (Planning Reference P0951.24) to relocate the existing road sweepings facility on site was submitted in July 2024. If successful the facility will be moved to the north of Veolia's site where an existing soils recovery centre is operated until the end of 2031.
Any current planning applications relating to the Veolia site at Coldharbour Lane, Rainham can be viewed on London Borough Havering Council planning portal
Pitsea Planning Update
Our site at Pitsea Hall Lane in Basildon currently has:
- A Landfill operation processing non recyclable waste
- A set of offices for operational staff managing processes on site
- A Methane Gas and Leachate Treatment Plant supporting the landfill operation
- A Screening operation for Soils
- An Open Windrow Composting Facility processing green and garden waste
- Shredding of oversized green waste and green waste wood
Our long held plan has been to cease the tipping operations for landfill waste at our Pitsea site by the end of 2025, when the landfill operations will enter a restoration phase. The existing site consent for Pitsea Landfill ceases in 2027 and we intend to meet that date.
The Future
Once the landfill operations close, the work doesn't stop, we have a duty to care for the waste for many years into the future while it stabilises over time.
As part of this aftercare, we will continue to carry out long-term environmental monitoring to comply with our Environmental Permits to make sure the wider environment remains safe.
After the completion of the restoration period in 2027, there will be a significant reduction in vehicle movements along the private access road and Pitsea Hall Lane compared to what has been seen previously and what is currently permitted at the site.
Outside of monitoring and managing any restored site, our focus is on the regeneration of the area once the site is closed. Regeneration encourages biodiversity through habitat creation and providing green spaces and we work closely with other stakeholders to realise the environmental benefits of our restored sites.
This same approach will be adopted at Pitsea and we encourage community involvement and interest in the process.
Details of our planning applications for Pitsea can be found on the Essex County Council planning portal.
Springfield Planning Update
Our landfill operation at Springfield in Buckinghamshire processes non recyclable waste. On site we also have a Landfill Gas Utilisation Plant which converts the extracted landfill gas into renewable electricity, supporting the landfill operation.
Here is an overview of current plans for the site:
Gas Utilisation Compound
The landfill gas utilisation plant (GUP) contains 3 containerised engines which convert the gas extracted from the landfill site into renewable electricity, which is then exported to the distribution network. Alongside the engines are 2 high temperature gas flares which safely combust any excess gas which cannot be used in the engines. The GUP currently generates enough renewable electricity to power around 9,000 homes. In 2024 planning approval was granted to slightly extend the footprint of the GUP in order to provide us with additional capacity to treat and combust the extracted gas.
Any current planning applications relating to the Veolia site at Springfield, Buckinghamshire can be viewed on the Buckinghamshire Council planning portal.
Enquiries regarding the ongoing operation of our Springfield Landfill Facility can be submitted to [email protected]