Information for Bolton Thermal Recovery Facility / "Bolton Incinerator", Raikes Lane, Bolton
Status: ExistingPlanning Region: North West
Planning Sub-Region: Greater Manchester
Operator: Suez
Capacity: 128,000
Campaign Group(s): Contact coordinator@ukwin.org.uk to be put in touch with those opposing this development.
Notes: This incinerator was temporarily shut down due to a fire in September 2017 [Source]. It was reported in November 2018 that the plant had experienced "a significant number of temporary shutdowns" since it re-opened in July 2018 [Source]. (Entry updated 2019-06-06)
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: RP3036QU
| Date First Permitted | Operator Name | Site Name | Site Address | Type | Permitted Capacity (tonnage) | Tonnage Incinerated in 2006 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2007 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2008 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2009 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2010 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2011 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2012 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2013 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2014 | Tonnage Incinerated in 2015 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/11/2005 | SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd | Bolton Energy Recovery Centre | BOLTON INCINERATOR,RAIKES LANE,BOLTON,BOLTON, BL3 1RP | Municipal and/or Industrial & Commercial | 127,100 | 103,832 | 87,385 | 95,754 | 84,939 | 83,525 | 86,859 | 87,413 | 79,428 | 73,773 | 91,278 | 86,389 | 50,202 | 29,475 | 88,211 | 65,478 | 81,388 | 72,117 | 81,374 | 89,072 | 72,117 | 81,374 | 89,072 |
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: RP3036QU
SITE ADDRESS: Bolton Energy Recovery Centre Raikes Lane Lancashire
ROUTE NAME: Air
METHODNAME: Calculated
| SUBSTANCE NAME | QUANTITY RELEASED (kg) (2024) | QUANTITY RELEASED (kg) (2025) | METHODTEXT (2024) | METHODTEXT (2025) | METHODDESCRIPTION (2024) | METHODDESCRIPTION (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | 88,212,000 | 79,979,000 (-9%) | SUEZ | Other calculation method | Calculation method prescribed by us in an operating permit or licence for the facility | |
| Carbon Dioxide From Qualifying Renewable Fuel Sources | 45,747,800 | 36,870,000 (-19%) | SUEZ | Other calculation method | Calculation method prescribed by us in an operating permit or licence for the facility | |
| Dioxins and furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) - as ITEQ | 0 | Calculation method prescribed by us in an operating permit or licence for the facility | ||||
| Nickel | 75.60 | SUEZ | Other calculation method | |||
| Chromium | 29.40 | SUEZ | Other calculation method | |||
| Mercury | 1.59 | SUEZ | Other calculation method | |||
GHG Performance in 2022
Uses data from operators collated for openDemocracy article "Some ‘renewable’ UK incinerators are more polluting than coal stations"
Permit: RP3036QU
| Total waste combusted (Total) | Electricity generated (MWh) | Electricity imported (MWh) | Electricity Exported (MWh) | Annual mass of carbon dioxide released (t) | CO2 Source | Annual mass emissions of nitrous oxide (tonnes) | N2O source | Biogenic percentage | Biogenic source | Total kg CO2e (including biogenic) per tonne combusted | Fossil kg CO2 per tonne combusted | Kg of fossil carbon equiv per MWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72,117 | 42,185 | 1,676 | 36,215 | 55,492 | Calculated from reported CO2 volume fraction on the CEMS and the stack flowrate readings on an adjusted basis for each line | 0.59 | Calculated from periodic monitoring, operational hours and the stack flowrate readings on an adjusted basis for each line | 52.00% | Assed from breakdown of waste composition from third-party reporting (M.E.L) in March 2022 and the respective carbon content of each component | 772 | 369 | 740 |
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: RP3036QU
| Permitted capacity (ktpa) | Total waste combusted | CO2 (kg) | CO2 per tonne (kg) | CO2 Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | 85,000 | 84,602,000 | 995 | Pollution Inventory |
APR Summary 2024 & 2025
Details taken or derived from the Annual Performance Report submitted by the operator
Permit: RP3036QU
| Entry | Value (2024) | Value (2025) | Notes (2024) | Notes (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Size TPA | 12,800 | 128,000 (+900%) | Bolton Thermal Recovery Facility | |
| Plant Size MWth | 40 | 40 | ||
| Plant Size MWe | 9 | 9 | ||
| Power Generated Year Total | 66,642.00 | 56,582.75 (-15%) | ||
| Power Generated kWh per tonne | 748.18 | 782.73 (+5%) | ||
| Power Exported Year Total | 57,329.00 | 48,904.70 (-15%) | ||
| Power Exported kWh per tonne | 643.63 | 676.51 (+5%) | ||
| Power Imported Year Total | 909.00 | 819.40 (-10%) | ||
| Power Imported kWh per tonne | 10.21 | 11.34 (+11%) | ||
| Parasitic Load Year Total | 0.15 | 0.15 | ||
| Thermal Energy Exported Year Total | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Total Waste Received Year Total | 93,853.00 | 73,559.02 (-22%) | ||
| Total Waste Combusted Year Total | 89,072.00 | 72,289.36 (-19%) | Household / Local Authority (100.16%) | Household / Local Authority (100.00%) |
| Permit Breaches Year Total | 3.00 | 2.00 (-33%) | ||
| Annual CO2 Mass | 9,258,500.00% | 79,979.19 | (Yearly Stack Flow * % of CO2)* Density of CO2 | [CO2 Conc.]*1.963*[Avg. Stack Flowrate (Adjusted)]*[Operating Time] |
| Annual CO2 Mass Per Tonne | 1.04 | 1.11 (+7%) | ||
| Annual CO2 Mass Per Mwh | 161.00% | 1.64 | ||
| Annual N2O Mass | 6.28 | 37.38 (+495%) | (yearly average N2O mg/Nm3) * (stack flow volume for the year Nm3) | [N2O Conc.]]*[Avg. Stack Flowrate (Adjusted)]*[Operating Time]*(10^-6) |
| Total CO2 N2O | 89,883.65 | |||
| Biogenic CO2 Percentage | 52.00% | 0.46 | Quartlerly Sampling of Waste | C14 Sampling Station set up on plant - single test from June 2026 |
| Biogenic Percentage NCV | 0.42 | 0.36 (-14%) | Average of 3 Waste Samples for Q1, Q2 & Q3 | |
| Biogenic Percentage Mass | 52.00% | 0.44 | Average of 3 Waste Samples for Q1, Q2 & Q3 | |
Entry on WikiWaste:
https://wikiwaste.org.uk/index.php/Bolton_TRFAnnual Performance Report files:
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2018.pdf73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2019.pdf
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2020.xlsm
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2021.xlsm
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2022.xlsm
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2023.pdf
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2024.xlsm
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2024Corrected.xlsm
73-AnnualPerformanceReport-2025.xlsm
Permit Variation files:
73-PermitVariation-2023.pdfPermit Variation Decision files:
73-PermitVariationDecision-2023.pdfEnvironment Agency Compliance Assessment Reports
Click here to see the incinerator compliance documents for existing English incineratorsStandard notice:
UKWIN (and therefore the UKWIN map) focuses on Municipal Waste Incinerators, whereas our colleagues at Biofuelwatch focus on biomass projects. If you are interested in biomass incinerators (including waste wood plants) over 20MW then please see the Biofuelwatch map of UK Biomass Power Stations. Those concerned about biomass plants, including waste wood plants, should email Biofuelwatch at biofuelwatch[at]gmail.com.Please be aware: There is always room for improvement, so please send updates to coordinator@ukwin.org.uk. Existing Incinerator means a facility that is operational or under construction/commissioning. A Potential Incinerator is a facility where there is a proposal for an incinerator (e.g. planning application or planning consent) or other reason to believe an incinerator might be built/proposed in the future. A Prevented Incinerator is something which used to be a proposal or expected incinerator which we do not believe is currently being progressed (e.g. because the project was cancelled, planning permission refused, or years have gone by since the permission was granted without any progress) - in some cases a facility marked as prevented is being progressed without us being aware or is subsequently revived. Capacity is usually the permitted or maximum advertised capacity of the facility.