Over the past few years building work had been going ahead to createGloucestershire’s “Energy from Waste” (GEfW) facility next to Junction 12 of the M5.This facility is part of a joint venture between Urbaser and Balfour Beatty (UBB Gloucestershire) to provide a key element of the waste management infrastructure, in line with Gloucestershire’s Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. It became operational in 2019.

The facility takes waste that would otherwise go to landfill and converts it mainly into electrical energy that goes into the grid system. However, what it can take, how it accumulates it, how it handles it, how it burns it, what it does with residual waste, how it converts the energy released from incineration into electricity, how it prevents noxious emissions, how it works to stop smells spreading from the raw waste, and many other aspects of its design and operation are issues that will be of great interest to engineers. The visit will involve a presentation and a walking tour of some of the facility, and lasts approximately 2 hours. The walking tour takes in the Waste Reception Hall, Waste Bunker, and a view of the waste burning on the grate.

Details about travel, reception and dress will be sent to those who book. Please note that only 10 places are available.