Recycling and energy recovery facility

We have a recycling and energy recovery facility (RERF) that helps reduce Leeds' carbon footprint.

photograph of the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility at Leeds, a glass and metal building with green foliage on the outer side walls

We want to reduce waste and increase recycling in Leeds. We are achieving this by:

  • providing education in communities
  • supporting residents to engage more with recycling
  • improving our recycling services and facilities

Part of this work is done at our recycling and energy recovery facility (RERF) at Cross Green.

Benefits to the city

The RERF, managed by Veolia, recovers recyclable materials and energy from the city’s black bin waste. This has helped to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.

It provides many benefits, such as:

  • transforming waste into electricity that can be used to supply heating for 20,000 homes in parts of the city
  • at least 2 per cent of black bin waste is extracted for recycling
  • environmental and biodiversity is increased with the living wall - rainwater is also harvested and used on site
  • saves the council over £7million each year, compared with landfill
  • reduces Leeds’ carbon footprint
Copies of our business case and contract with Veolia

We have copies of our contracts and business cases for the RERF. Email us if you need information or copies at leeds.waste@leeds.gov.uk.   

Visit

Two hour group tours are available Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm. We also offer schools, colleges and universities the opportunity of a free visit.

Our visits will help you:

  • discover the journey of your household black bin waste and what can be recycled
  • learn how to reduce, reuse, recycle and how energy is recovered
  • find out about the facility and how it supports the environment
  • take part in a wide range of activities testing your knowledge, and get involved in our quizzes and games in our purpose-built visitor centre
  • observe the waste-to-energy process via our viewing walkway platform and in depth video footage

The programme also supports a range of National Curriculum and Key Stage themes such as geography, sustainable development, science, numeracy and literacy.

Request a place

For further tour information and to request a place, please email leeds.enquiries@veolia.co.uk to get a booking form.