Incinerator information library

Information for Peterborough CC EFW Plant, Fourth Drove, Fengate, Peterborough

Status: Existing
Planning Region: East of England
Planning Sub-Region: Cambridgeshire
Operator: Viridor / KKR / Peterborough City Council
Capacity: 110,000
Campaign Group(s): Peterborough Friends of the Earth
Notes: Officially began operations in January 2016. Planning permission for a conventional 65,000 tpa incinerator approved in November 2009 [Source]. Planning application to increase capacity to 85,000 tonnes submitted in September 2012 [Source]. Viridor were named the preferred bidder to operate the facility in August 2012 [Source, source]. Permit BP3836GR issued in October 2010 which was replaced by Permit NP3638ZS in December 2016. In 2023 Viridor announced plans to increase capacity to 110ktpa (permit ref EPR/NP3638ZS/V006). Not to be confused with the gasification plant proposed nearby. (Entry updated 2022-08-07)

R1 status of incinerators - 8 April 2026 (Environment Agency)

Uses data from R1 status of incinerators in England released by the Environment Agency. © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2026. All rights reserved.

Permit: NP3638ZS

Operator	Installation name	Installation address	Permit status	Waste input (000s tonnes per annum)	Incinerator type	Calculated R1 value	Application R1 status granted	Source of data used in R1 calculations	Date R1 application status granted
Viridor Peterborough Ltd	Peterborough Energy From Waste Facility	Energy From Waste Facility, Fourth Drove, Fengate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE1 5UR,	Permit issued	85	Municipal waste	0.75	Yes	Design	03/11/2015

Waste management for England 2024: Operational (Environment Agency)

Uses data from 2024 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright

Permit: NP3638ZS

Date First Permitted	Operator Name	Site Name	Site Address	Type	Permitted Capacity (tonnage)	Tonnage Incinerated in 2016	Tonnage Incinerated in 2017	Tonnage Incinerated in 2018	Tonnage Incinerated in 2019	Tonnage Incinerated in 2020	Tonnage Incinerated in 2021	Tonnage Incinerated in 2022	Tonnage Incinerated in 2023	Tonnage Incinerated in 2024	Tonnage Incinerated in 2022	Tonnage Incinerated in 2023	Tonnage Incinerated in 2024
29/10/2010	Viridor Peterborough Limited	Peterborough Energy Recovery Facility	Fourth Drove, Fengate, Peterborough, PE15UR	Municipal and/or Industrial & Commercial	85,000	82,702	81,248	83,680	82,105	79,936	81,044	90,939	86,093	90,926	90,939	86,093	90,926

Waste management for England 2023 & 2024: Waste received

2023: Uses data from 2023 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
2024: Uses data from 2024 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright

Permit: NP3638ZS

Form: Solid

Fate: Incineration

R and D code: R01

EWC Waste Desc	Waste Code	Recorded Origin	Origin WPA	Origin Region	SOC Category	SOC Sub Category	Tonnes Received (2023)	Tonnes Received (2024)
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	47,918	53,057 (+11%)
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Cambridge	Cambridgeshire	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	6,458	14,128 (+119%)
wastes whose collection and disposal is not subject to special requirements in order to prevent infection(for example dressings, plaster casts, linen, disposable clothing, diapers)	18 01 04	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Mixed and undifferentiated materials	9,846	11,046 (+12%)
other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues	4,556	3,107 (-32%)
bulky waste	20 03 07	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	1,943	2,896 (+49%)
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes		2,254
plastics	20 01 39	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	07 - Non-metallic wastes	Plastic wastes		1,235
other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	Northamptonshire	Northamptonshire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues		668
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Leicestershire	Leicestershire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes		621
other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	Norfolk	Norfolk	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues		451
combustible waste (refuse derived fuel)	19 12 10	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues		390
combustible waste (refuse derived fuel)	19 12 10	Leicestershire	Leicestershire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues		387
plastics	20 01 39	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	East Midlands	07 - Non-metallic wastes	Plastic wastes		385
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	London	London (WPA Not codeable)	London	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	128	305 (+138%)
street-cleaning residues	20 03 03	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	415	157 (-62%)
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Northamptonshire	Northamptonshire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	12,513	66 (-99%)
bulky waste	20 03 07	Northamptonshire	Northamptonshire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes		49
bulky waste	20 03 07	Suffolk	Suffolk	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes		12
other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	Luton	Luton	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues		11
other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	Rutland	Rutland	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues		10
bulky waste	20 03 07	London	London (WPA Not codeable)	London	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes		3
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	881
other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	Bedford	Bedford	East of England	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues	673
plastics	20 1 39	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	07 - Non-metallic wastes	Plastic wastes	360
mixed municipal waste	20 3 01	Rutland	Rutland	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	211
other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	West Midlands	West Midlands (WPA Not codeable)	West Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues	184
mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Rutland	Rutland	East Midlands	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	7

Waste management for England 2023 & 2024: Waste removed

2023: Uses data from 2023 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 1 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
2024: Uses data from 2024 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright

Permit: NP3638ZS

EWC Sub Chapter	EWC Waste Desc	Waste Code	Recorded Destination	Destination WPA	Destination Region	Fate	R and D code	SOC Category	SOC Sub Category	Tonnes Removed (2023)	Tonnes Removed (2024)
Incineration or pyrolysis of waste	bottom ash and slag other than those mentioned in 19 01 11	19 1 12	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Combustion wastes		17,679.52
Incineration or pyrolysis of waste	solid wastes from gas treatment	19 01 07*	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Combustion wastes	377.76	2,220.75 (+488%)
Incineration or pyrolysis of waste	bottom ash and slag other than those mentioned in 19 01 11	19 1 12	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Landfill	D01	12 - Mineral wastes	Combustion wastes		476.60
Oil/water separator contents	interceptor sludges	13 05 03*	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Treatment	D09	03 - Other chemical wastes	Chemical deposits and residues		87.68
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	metals	20 01 40	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R04	06 - Metallic wastes	Mixed metal wastes	37.56	12.96 (-65%)
Other construction and demolition wastes	mixed construction and demolition wastes other than those mentioned in 17 09 01, 17 09 02 and 17 09 03	17 09 04	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Transfer (D)	D15	12 - Mineral wastes	Construction and demolition wastes		12.00
Mechanical treatment of waste (for example sorting - crushing - compacting - pelletising) not otherwise specified	ferrous metal	19 12 02	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Transfer (D)	D15	06 - Metallic wastes	Ferrous metal waste and scrap		2.60
Other municipal wastes	mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R05	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes		2.23
Gypsum-based construction material	gypsum-based construction materials other than those mentioned in 17 08 01	17 8 02	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Construction and demolition wastes		1.42
Other construction and demolition wastes	mixed construction and demolition wastes other than those mentioned in 17 09 01, 17 09 02 and 17 09 03	17 09 04	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Construction and demolition wastes		0.92
Other municipal wastes	mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Transfer (D)	D15	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes		0.52
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	textiles	20 01 11	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R05	07 - Non-metallic wastes	Textile wastes		0.30
Other construction and demolition wastes	mixed construction and demolition wastes other than those mentioned in 17 09 01, 17 09 02 and 17 09 03	17 09 04	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Construction and demolition wastes	2.98	0.28 (-91%)
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	discarded electrical and electronic equipment other than those mentioned in 20 01 21 and 20 01 23 containing hazardous components ( 6 )	20 01 35*	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	South West	Transfer (D)	D15	08 - Discarded equipment	Discarded electrical and electronic equipment		0.23
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	discarded electrical and electronic equipment other than those mentioned in 20 01 21 and 20 01 23 containing hazardous components ( 6 )	20 01 35*	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	South West	Recovery	R05	08 - Discarded equipment	Discarded electrical and electronic equipment		0.20
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	discarded electrical and electronic equipment other than those mentioned in 20 01 21 and 20 01 23 containing hazardous components ( 6 )	20 01 35*	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	South West	Recovery	R13	08 - Discarded equipment	Discarded electrical and electronic equipment		0.20
Incineration or pyrolysis of waste	bottom ash and slag other than those mentioned in 19 01 11	19 01 12	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire	East of England	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Combustion wastes	17,919.43
Incineration or pyrolysis of waste	solid wastes from gas treatment	19 01 07*	Suffolk	Suffolk	East of England	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Combustion wastes	1,339.28
Mechanical treatment of waste (for example sorting - crushing - compacting - pelletising) not otherwise specified	other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of wastes other than those mentioned in 19 12 11	19 12 12	Croydon	Croydon	London	Incineration	D10	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues	326.24
Oil/water separator contents	interceptor sludges	13 05 03*	Bristol, City of	Bristol City	South West	Recovery	R03	03 - Other chemical wastes	Chemical deposits and residues	107.80
Oil/water separator contents	interceptor sludges	13 05 03*	Bristol, City of	Bristol City	South West	Recovery	R13	03 - Other chemical wastes	Chemical deposits and residues	62.80
Incineration or pyrolysis of waste	solid wastes from gas treatment	19 01 07*	Suffolk	Suffolk	East of England	Landfill	D05	12 - Mineral wastes	Combustion wastes	20.00
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	metals	20 01 40	Peterborough	Peterborough	East of England	Recovery	R04	06 - Metallic wastes	Mixed metal wastes	16.24
Waste hydraulic oils	synthetic hydraulic oils	13 01 11*	Bristol, City of	Bristol City	South West	Recovery	R05	01 - Chemical compound wastes	Used oils	4.00
Incineration or pyrolysis of waste	solid wastes from gas treatment	19 01 07*	Peterborough	Peterborough	East of England	Recovery	R05	12 - Mineral wastes	Combustion wastes	4.00
Waste engine - gear and lubricating oils	mineral-based non-chlorinated engine, gear and lubricating oils	13 02 05*	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R13	01 - Chemical compound wastes	Used oils	1.80
Other municipal wastes	mixed municipal waste	20 03 01	Peterborough	Peterborough	East of England	Recovery	R05	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Household and similar wastes	1.60
Waste engine - gear and lubricating oils	mineral-based non-chlorinated engine, gear and lubricating oils	13 02 05*	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R03	01 - Chemical compound wastes	Used oils	1.50
Packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste)	mixed packaging	15 01 06	Peterborough	Peterborough	East of England	Recovery	R05	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Mixed and undifferentiated materials	0.30
Mechanical treatment of waste (for example sorting - crushing - compacting - pelletising) not otherwise specified	other wastes (including mixtures of materials) from mechanical treatment of waste containing dangerous substances	19 12 11*	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R05	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Sorting residues	0.20
Packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste)	mixed packaging	15 01 06	Peterborough	Peterborough	East of England	Incineration	D10	10 - Mixed ordinary wastes	Mixed and undifferentiated materials	0.15
End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13 - 14 - 16 06 and 16 08)	antifreeze fluids containing dangerous substances	16 01 14*	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R13	01 - Chemical compound wastes	Spent solvents	0.05
Packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste)	metallic packaging	15 01 04	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R05	06 - Metallic wastes	Mixed metal wastes	0.04
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	discarded electrical and electronic equipment other than those mentioned in 20 01 21 and 20 01 23 containing hazardous components ( 6 )	20 01 35*	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R13	08 - Discarded equipment	Discarded electrical and electronic equipment	0.04
Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)	fluorescent tubes and other mercury-containing waste	20 01 21*	Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire	East Midlands	Recovery	R13	08 - Discarded equipment	Discarded machines and equipment components	0.02

Environment Agency 2024 & 2025 Pollution Inventory: Substances

2024: Uses data from the Pollution Inventory 2024 released by the Environment Agency under the Open Government License.
2025: Uses data from the Pollution Inventory 2025 snapshot from April 2025 released by the Environment Agency under the Open Government License. The data may change in the final version.

Permit: NP3638ZS

SITE ADDRESS: Peterborough Energy Recovery Facility Fourth Drove,

ROUTE NAME: Air

METHODNAME: Measured

SUBSTANCE NAME	QUANTITY RELEASED (kg) (2024)	QUANTITY RELEASED (kg) (2025)	METHODTEXT	METHODDESCRIPTION (2024)	METHODDESCRIPTION (2025)
Carbon dioxide	114,745,568	97,215,760 (-15%)		Measurement method prescribed by us in an operating permit or licence for the facility (For all years)
Carbon Dioxide From Qualifying Renewable Fuel Sources	53,700,928	49,208,164 (-8%)		Other measurement method	Measurement method demonstrated by means of certified reference materials and approved by us

GHG Performance in 2022

Uses data from operators collated for openDemocracy article "Some ‘renewable’ UK incinerators are more polluting than coal stations"

Permit: NP3638ZS

Total waste combusted (Total): 90,939

Electricity generated (MWh): 60,238

Electricity imported (MWh): 432

Electricity Exported (MWh): 52,706

Annual mass of carbon dioxide released (t): 105,709

CO2 Source: Fully calibrated CEM's used to calculate the data.

Annual mass emissions of nitrous oxide (tonnes): 0.26

N2O source: Fully calibrated CEM's used to calculate the data

Total kg CO2e (including biogenic) per tonne combusted: 1,163

Biogenic percentage	Biogenic source	Fossil kg CO2 per tonne combusted	Kg of fossil carbon equiv per MWh
45.70%	Percentage of total carbon dioxide emissions arising from biogenic waste. The method used for determining biomass is the selective dissolution method as defined in BS EN ISO 21644:2021. This method involves treatment of the sample with concentrated sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Generally, the biomass in the sample will selectively dissolve leaving a non-biomass residue. The original mass of sample and mass of residue are measured. The result is calculated from the mass values and the ash content to give a result in %.	631	1,091
49.40%	Yearly average biogenic percentage of the waste by mass. The method used for determining biomass is the selective dissolution method as defined in BS EN ISO 21644:2021. This method involves treatment of the sample with concentrated sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Generally, the biomass in the sample will selectively dissolve leaving a non-biomass residue. The original mass of sample and mass of residue are measured. The result is calculated from the mass values and the ash content to give a result in %.	588	1,016

GHG Performance in 2023

Uses data from Pollution Inventory 2023 extract and Annual Peformance Reports submitted by operators and released by the Environment Agency under the Open Government License

Permit: NP3638ZS

Permitted capacity (ktpa)	Total waste combusted	CO2 (kg)	CO2 per tonne (kg)	CO2 Source
110	85,461	96,363,800	1,128	Annual Performance Report

APR Summary 2024 & 2025

Details taken or derived from the Annual Performance Report submitted by the operator

Permit: NP3638ZS

Entry	Value (2024)	Value (2025)	Notes (2024)	Notes (2025)
Plant Size TPA	110,000	110,000	Peterborough Energy Recovery Facility (For all years)
Plant Size MWe	8.10	8.00 (-1%)
Power Generated Year Total	64,986.00	63,408.00 (-2%)
Power Generated kWh per tonne	714.71	704.34 (-1%)
Power Exported Year Total	56,382.00	55,744.00 (-1%)
Power Exported kWh per tonne	620.09	619.21 (-0.1%)
Power Imported Year Total	304.00	414.00 (+36%)
Power Imported kWh per tonne	3.34	4.60 (+38%)
Parasitic Load Year Total	0.14	0.13 (-7%)
Thermal Energy Exported Year Total	0.00	0.00
Total Waste Received Year Total	91,238.94	93,102.38 (+2%)
Total Waste Combusted Year Total	90,925.95	90,024.83 (-1.0%)	Household / Local Authority (200301 & 200307) (49.64%)	Household / Local Authority (52.01%)
NCV Year Total	963.00%	9.19
Permit Breaches Year Total	400.00%	6.00
Annual CO2 Mass	114,745.57	96,996.00 (-15%)	A mass emission calculation using the percent of CO2 measured in accordance with EN14181 and the stack flow measured in accordance with 16911-2.	A mass emission calculation using the percent of CO2 measured by FTIR in accordance with EN14181 and the stack flow measured in accordance with 16911-2.
Annual CO2 Mass Per Tonne	126.00%	1.08
Annual CO2 Mass Per Mwh	2.04	1.74 (-15%)
Annual N2O Mass	0.07	13.25 (+18,829%)	A mass emission calculation using the concentration of Nitrous Oxide measured in accordance with EN14181 and the stack flow measured in accordance with 16911-2.	A mass emission calculation using the concentration of Nitrous Oxide measured by FTIR in accordance with EN14181 and the stack flow measured in accordance with 16911-2.
Total CO2 N2O		100,506.72
Biogenic CO2 Percentage	0.50	0.51 (+2%)	Result of C14 sampling (Installed sampler). Figure is the annual average figure from the monthly cartiridge laboratory results.	Result of C14 analysis (Installed sampler). Figure is the annual average figure from the monthly cartiridge laboratory results.
Biogenic Percentage NCV	0.47	0.69 (+47%)	Waste Sampling The method used is the selective dissolution method as defined in BS EN ISO 21644:2021. This method involves treatment of the sample with concentrated sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Generally, the biomass in the sample will selectively dissolve leaving a non-biomass residue. The original mass of sample and mass of residue are measured. The result is calculated from the mass values and the ash content to give a result in %.	Waste Sampling The method used is the selective dissolution method as defined in BS EN ISO 21644:2021. This method involves treatment of the sample with concentrated sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Generally, the biomass in the sample will selectively dissolve leaving a non-biomass residue. The original mass of sample and mass of residue are measured. The result is calculated from the mass values and the ash content to give a result in %.
Biogenic Percentage Mass	0.43	0.70 (+63%)	Waste Sampling (For all years)

Entry on WikiWaste:

https://wikiwaste.org.uk/index.php/Peterborough_EfW

Annual Performance Report files:

29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2018.pdf
29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2019.pdf
29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2020.xlsm
29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2021.xlsm
29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2022.xlsm
29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2023.xlsm
29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2024.xlsm
29-AnnualPerformanceReport-2025.xlsm

Permit Variation files:

29-PermitVariation-2022.pdf
29-PermitVariation-2023.pdf
29-PermitVariation-2025.pdf
29-PermitVariation-Decision-2022.pdf

Planning Consent files:

29-PlanningConsent-2010.pdf

Environment Agency Compliance Assessment Reports

Click here to see the incinerator compliance documents for existing English incinerators