Local councillors and residents gathered to discuss the controversial £300m energy from waste incinerator planned for Teesworks, raising significant concerns.
The Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TVERF) plans to burn 450,000 tonnes of household waste each year. This waste is what’s left after recycling. The goal is to convert it into electricity for the National Grid.
The meeting was organized by Stop Incineration North East (SINE) and included Medact, a group of medical professionals. About 40 people attended, along with nine councillors from Redcar and Cleveland Council.
Ray Casey from SINE said the meeting was well attended. He noted that no one spoke in favor of the TVERF. Participants raised concerns about the number of incinerators already in operation and their location in disadvantaged areas.
Emily Parker from Medact encouraged attendees to contact their local councillors. She suggested looking at successful recycling practices from other regions, like Wales, which has improved its recycling rate significantly.
Councillor Neil Bendelow expressed uncertainty about the project. He mentioned that many decisions were made before he joined the council. He wants to gather more information and ask questions about the incinerator.
The TVERF project involves seven councils, including Redcar and Cleveland, which has already approved the facility. The project is estimated to cost around £300m, with operations expected to start in 2029.
The councils will pay a service fee to the operator over a 40-year contract. Costs from the procurement process are shared among the local authorities. A final tender from waste operator Viridor is expected soon.
Project partners describe the TVERF as a solution to divert waste from landfills. They see it as a critical piece of infrastructure for the area.
