Inaugurated on 30th September 1990, the HTI facility processes a range of liquid and solid waste ranging from contaminated electrical equipment to laboratory waste. As one of the most technically advanced operations of its type in Europe, and the largest in the UK, the waste processing centre performs a key role in the industrial infrastructure and currently treats 100,000 tonnes annually.
During the last three decades, it has also supported the local community through the Community Fund, and provided communities with an insight into the value of this type of plant through numerous public open days and educational site visits.
Recent highlights of the operation include:
2020 - To beat the unprecedented demand for biocidal hand sanitiser products the specialist laboratory facilities in Ellesmere Port starts manufacturing its own sanitiser liquid to protect Veolia's key workers in the essential waste, energy and water operations.
2018 - Introduction of advanced energy storage to enhance the energy and environmental performance and demonstrate the application of this technology. Delivering 500kW/385kWh, equivalent to the energy required to power 1,000 homes or the output from 100,000 standard AA size batteries, it enables the plant to maintain the essential load in the event of a power outage, and can export power to the grid.
2017 - Supported the new chemical management service designed to provide a mobile solution for identifying, listing, packing, collection and disposal of hazardous and laboratory chemical wastes. Known as Chempac, the service provides an easy way of managing and disposing of these materials to ensure compliance and safety for customers.
2014 - Incineration of around 190 tonnes of Syrian chemical material, intended for use by the Assad regime to manufacture nerve agent, under the verification procedures of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
2013 - Awarded permit and started secure treatment of the UK backlog of low level radioactive waste from laboratories, healthcare, industry and power generation
Donald Macphail, managing director for Treatment, Veolia UK and Ireland comments: "The success of Veolia's HTI facility at Ellesmere Port demonstrates the commitment of the dedicated teams who have contributed to the operations over the last three decades.
"The innovation of the operational and laboratory teams on site have ensured that it remains one of the most technically advanced in Europe, and have gained ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditation. This has ensured that the facility has maintained its leading treatment role for complex waste streams and sets a benchmark for the future."
