Incinerator to be used 'past design life' thanks to slow progress on new facility

A replacement Edmonton incinerator was originally due to open in 2027 but North London Waste Authority says it is now preparing to continue using the old one “up to and beyond” 2030, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

The current incinerator in Edmonton was opened in 1969

Edmonton incinerator will stay in use well beyond its lifespan – as progress slows on its replacement.

The facility will now remain operational “up to and beyond 2030” according to North London Waste Authority (NLWA), which runs Edmonton Eco Park where the incinerator is based.

However, this is “significantly past design life” for its mechanical, electrical and civil infrastructure, according to a report published in December.

NLWA is controlled by councillors from Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest and is responsible for disposing of waste from the seven boroughs.

A replacement ‘energy from waste’ facility was initially slated to begin operation in 2027, and while construction is ongoing, no clear timeline has been established by the authority.

Last August, the project’s overseers said it was being hindered by local and international challenges. They pointed to Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and high interest rates impacting the cost of raw construction materials.

Clyde Loakes, a non-executive director of NLWA and deputy leader at Waltham Forest Council, said that month that work “had not stopped” despite rumours and “construction progress continues to be made, with over 200 workers on site”.

The total budget for NLWA’s ongoing North London Heat and Power Project – which includes the incinerator as well as new recycling facilities at Edmonton Eco Park – has also climbed from £1.2billion to £1.5bn.

A total of £66.5million has been allocated to the project from the Heat Networks Investment Project, a government-funded scheme aimed at increasing the number of networks in England and Wales.

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