History

Although we’ve gone through several changes during that time, one thing has remained constant: our desire to provide effective, sustainable energy, recycling, and resource management and, ultimately, eradicating waste going to landfill.

The beginning

The energy plant was built over 50 years ago in 1969 by the Greater London Council (GLC). It was the first energy from waste facility in the UK called the Edmonton Solid Waste Incineration Plant. The plant processed household waste and in 1970 started exporting to the Tottenham National Grid. In 1986 the GLC was abolished, and the Waste Disposal Authorities formed – North London Waste Authority (NLWA). The NLWA covers seven north London boroughs with around 1.9 million people and produces about 650,000 tonnes of waste every year.

The 90s

1991

• Ferrous metal recovery added to energy plant, installing a magnet at the end of the incineration process to recover ferrous metals from residual ash.

1994

• LondonWaste Ltd is formed as a 50-50 joint venture between the NLWA and SITA UK to help ensure the Edmonton facility complies with the new legislation.

1996

• LondonWaste Ltd invests £15 million in state-of-the-art flue gas treatment equipment, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the facility’s emissions.

1998

• A partnership with a specialist third-party ash recycler is started to divert ash from landfill and to produce a product of value to the construction industry.

2000

2001

• The EcoPark brand is launched- a leading example of integrated resource management on one site.

2004

• A Recycling Centre is built, which is specifically tailored to sort bulky materials.

2005

• Investment of £26 million into the EfW facility ensures an upgrade to adhere to the Waste Incineration Directive.
• Addition of a £5.2 million In-Vessel Compost Centre (VC) at the EcoPark.
• Thousands of tonnes of free compost is supplied to community projects across north and east London.

2009

• The NLWA buys SITA’s 50% share in LondonWaste Ltd to wholly own the company.

2011

• A further upgrade to the compost centre added a dehumidifier to the maturation area.

2012

• Commitment to safe driving, legal compliance, progressive improvement, and high standards gains our vehicle fleet accreditation to Transport for London’s highest Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Gold.
• LondonWaste Ltd takes over five Reuse and Recycling Centres (RRCs): Regis Road in Camden, Kings Road and South Access in Waltham Forest, Park View and Hornsey High Road in Haringey.
• Addition of a £0.5 million Material Recycling Facility (MRF) to increase the level of recycling.

2014

• Investment of £2.3 million into the life extension of the EfW.
• LondonWaste Ltd opens the Western Road Recycling Centre in Haringey.
• November: The North London Heat and Power Project (NLHPP) consultation Phase 1 is launched by the NLWA. The project comprises two main elements: an energy recovery facility and a resource recovery facility to be built at the EcoPark.

2015

• January: LondonWaste Ltd secures a further ten-year waste management contract for the second largest disposal authority in the UK, handling close to one million tonnes each year.
• September: The Second Time Around Shop is opened in E4, providing a new sustainable service to North London residents. 
• October: LondonWaste Ltd takes over the running of Barnet Reuse and Recycling Centre.
• A further £2 million is invested in the life extension of the EfW, with a projected £8.5 million to be invested in 2016.

2016

• LondonWaste Ltd closes the Park View Recycling Centre in Haringey.

2017 to Present: LondonWaste Ltd becomes LondonEnergy

2017

• LondonWaste Ltd becomes LondonEnergy Ltd to have the company’s name more closely associated with what the company is now doing.
• LondonEnergy takes over the management of the Summers Lane Recycling Centre in Barnet.

2018

• LondonEnergy starts its move towards an electric fleet by investing in two BMW i3 electric cars and installing four charging points at the EcoPark site to ensure EV availability. The energy powering the vehicles is sourced from the household waste generated at the Energy Recovery Facility.

2019

• The company continues its investment into a new transport fleet with the purchase of New Volvo trucks.
• LondonEnergy launches a pioneer coffee cup recycling scheme: MochaDifference. The campaign is in collaboration with Waltham Forest, Camden, and Hackney Council.

2020

• All LondonEnergy employees are recognised Keyworkers as they continue to provide an essential service during the COVID pandemic.
• Our Great Place to Work strategy receives several accolades. We receive the Good Mayor Standard and a 1-star Award from Best Companies.
• The NLHPP construction is starting, and our Transport team relocates to the newly built Hawley Road Transport yard.
• The company continues its investment into a new transport fleet with the purchase of New Mercedes trucks.
• LondonEnergy receives the prestigious RoSPA Silver Award to recognise our practices and achievements in helping our staff, contractors, and customers get home safely at the end of the working day.

2021

• LondonEnergy Ltd starts operations in the new Wembley facility, which will include a new materials recycling picking line allowing a further boost to North London’s efforts to drive up recycling rates and allowing additional recyclable material to be extracted from the waste stream.

• New pilot recycling schemes are launched, including mattresses and polystyrene, reinforcing our commitment to making our practices as circular as possible.
• LondonEnergy is the only waste management company listed in the Top 75 Best Companies to Work for in London and the Top 10 utility companies nationwide.