Shailesh Vara MP has visited Peterborough City Council’s Energy Recovery Facility in Fengate, Peterborough.

Mr Vara had a tour of the facility and saw first-hand the impact it is having on energy generation for Peterborough as a whole.

The facility was built by waste and energy specialist, Viridor, and was completed in December 2015 following an 18 month construction project. The site can handle some 85,000 tonnes of black bin waste each year for the next 30 years and will divert this waste away from traditional landfill sites.

The plant will also reduce Peterborough’s carbon footprint by 10,000 tonnes per year and has the potential to provide enough energy to power 16,000 homes.

Following his visit, Mr Vara said:

“The scale of the energy recovery plant at Fengate is a real feat of engineering and that Peterborough was chosen for this state-of-the-art facility is testament to its aspirations to become the UK’s Environment Capital.

The plant has much potential and it will positively impact on Peterborough’s environment over the next three decades.”

Photo: Mr Vara is pictured in the Peterborough Energy Recovery Facility with Natasha Prior, Visitor Centre Co-ordinator.