Marchwood’s Silver DomeMarchwood’s Silver DomeMarchwood’s Silver Dome

Illustrations by Tracy MawdsleyIllustrations by Tracy Mawdsley

Have you ever looked out across Southampton water…and noticed a huge silver dome on the horizon?

Did you wonder what it was ?

Well, this huge silver dome is a state of the art energy recovery facility.

Veolia’s ERF

Officially opened on 10th July 2007 this is Veolia’s flagship ERF.

Designed by architect

Jean-Robert Mazaud

To make “people proud of industry and show them how exciting waste can be.”

Waste problemsWaste problems

In the 1980s, Hampshire’s landfill sites were In the 1980s, Hampshire’s landfill sites were running out of space.running out of space.

Incinerators built in 1970s were not going to Incinerators built in 1970s were not going to meet EU emission regulations, and waste meet EU emission regulations, and waste levels were continuing to rise.levels were continuing to rise.

Waste strategy planWaste strategy plan

Action on waste minimisationAction on waste minimisationAction on compostingAction on compostingAction on recyclingAction on recyclingSupport for anaerobic digestionSupport for anaerobic digestionUse of recovery technologiesUse of recovery technologies33--5 waste processing facilities5 waste processing facilitiesResidual waste to landfillResidual waste to landfill

Household waste deliveredto ERF

Put into feed hopper

Dropped into feed chute

Pushed onto the grate

Burnt

Turned into ash

Separated for recycling or disposal

This plant has the This plant has the capacity to burn capacity to burn 165,000 tonnes of 165,000 tonnes of black bag waste black bag waste each yeareach year

Energy is Energy is recovered from recovered from wastewaste

Most of which gets fed into to the National Grid

Providing power to over 22,000 homes!

It is 110 metres wideIt is 110 metres wide

36 metres high36 metres high

And has two And has two chimney stacks 65 chimney stacks 65 metres highmetres high

Reduce

RecycleRe-use

Recover energy

Landfill

Recyclable Recyclable household waste household waste goes to the goes to the materials recovery materials recovery facility (MRF)facility (MRF)

Green waste is Green waste is separated and separated and compostedcomposted

Any leftover rubbish goes to the ERF and if there’s too much it goes to landfill.

Water from the sea is used to cool the steam from the boilers after

electricity is generated.

Gases from the Gases from the boiler are injected boiler are injected with lime milkwith lime milk

This neutralises This neutralises acid gasesacid gases

Cleaned gases are Cleaned gases are then released into then released into the atmospherethe atmosphere

Benefits of the siteBenefits of the site

Waste is managedWaste is managed

Energy is recoveredEnergy is recovered

Landfill dependenceLandfill dependence is is reducedreduced

Methane from landfill Methane from landfill is avoidedis avoided

The use of fossil fuels The use of fossil fuels is reducedis reduced

Recycling is currently 33%Recycling is currently 33%

(plans to increase to 50%)(plans to increase to 50%)

Landfill diversion is 85%Landfill diversion is 85%

(plans to increase to 100%)(plans to increase to 100%)

The awareness and importance of The awareness and importance of recycling waste has increased and recycling waste has increased and many people are now keen to many people are now keen to contribute.contribute.

Which in turn makes a better Which in turn makes a better planet for us all…planet for us all…

So, the next time you see this huge silver dome, stop to think for a moment.

Not only has it got a visual impact, more importantly it has a very positive

impact on the whole community and the world in which we live today.

The End