Did you know that Cardiff Council no longer sends waste to landfill in Cardiff?
We no longer have any active landfill sites in Cardiff and instead use the Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) in Splott. This facility is delivered co-operatively with Viridor, and four other local councils as part of the Prosiect Gwyrdd partnership.
Our ERF handles up to 350,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste per year. This waste is burned and creates enough energy to power around 50,000 homes.
During this process, all fumes and smoke are cleaned, so no harmful gases are released back into the atmosphere. The ERF is fully sustainable and produces zero waste, with any left-over ash used to make road surfaces.
How the ERF works
· Waste can be pre-sorted to collect any recyclable materials left over.
· Non-recyclable waste is fed into the incinerator.
· It burns at temperatures over 850°C.
· Heat enters a boiler to produce steam.
· Steam powers a turbine that generates electricity for homes and businesses.
· Excess heat can be piped to neighbouring buildings for heating.
· Harmful gases are remove and the particles are filtered.
· Material collected by the air clean up system is sent for treatment.
· All emissions are monitored to meet strict environmental standards.
· Ash is collected at the bottom of the incinerator.
· Magnets remove any remaining metals that can be recycled.
· Ash that is left over can be used in construction projects, such as making new roads.
