Cabinet members visit energy from waste plant to learn about rubbish processing

Members of Northeast Lincolnshire Council’s Cabinet recently toured the NEWLINCS Energy from Waste (EfW) plant to gain a first-hand understanding of what happens to the borough's waste.

Located at the Integrated Waste Management Facility in Stallingborough, the EfW plant transforms household waste—collected in green bins—into energy, which is used to power local amenities.

How it works
The EfW plant is a combined heat and power (CHP) facility, powered by municipal waste that cannot be recycled. Rather than being sent to landfills, the waste undergoes thermal processing in controlled conditions to generate electricity and pressurised hot water. The plant also recycles ash and ferrous scrap produced in the process. Operating for up to 8,000 hours per year, it processes up to 56,000 tonnes of waste annually.

Other waste processing
In addition to non-recyclable waste, recyclable materials and garden waste are also brought to the Integrated Waste Management Facility. These materials are bulked and shredded before being sent to recycling processors. Items in the blue bin are recycled into newsprint and cardboard, while cans, glass, and plastics are sent to Bespoke Recycling in Grimsby, where they are sorted and distributed across the UK for reuse.

Garden waste is shredded and then transported to a company in Riby, where it is composted using the Windrow method.

Councillor Hudson, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Net Zero, commented, “It’s always enlightening to see how the borough’s waste is processed. Many people are aware that their rubbish goes into a bin wagon, but the process beyond that isn’t widely known.

"The efforts of our waste services team and NEWLINCS are vital to helping us achieve our Net Zero goals. While we know there’s still work to be done, we’re committed to working with our partners and residents to continue moving toward these objectives.”