Operating as a good neighbour
Operating as a good neighbour
Our number one priority is the health and safety of both our staff and the local community.
We will ensure that we operate our facilities within the emission limits set by UK and EU legislation. We guarantee to operate efficiently and safely.
We are committed to being a good neighbour and will work with local communities near our facilities to open dialogue and build a trusting, two-way relationship.
We know that we might not always get everything right when it comes to community engagement in an environment with many different stakeholders, but by working to build trust with our neighbours we are committed to creating lasting positive social impact.
You can learn more about how we will plan our operations and design our facilities carefully to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment by clicking on the links below:
Cutting carbon miles
Our facilities will be strategically located to minimise the amount of unnecessary carbon miles that are currently being used to transport clinical and hazardous waste around the country to aging treatment facilities.
For example, there is no other high temperature thermal treatment plant in North East England, and waste from this part of the country is being transported hundreds of miles to locations like Southampton and Slough for treatment.
This is unnecessary and adds to the carbon footprint of the NHS and hundreds of businesses producing hazardous waste. Cutting these carbon miles will deliver a significant environmental benefit and financial savings across the UK.
Cutting carbon miles
Generating renewable energy
Generating renewable energy
Our facilities will all be designed and located so they can generate renewable energy in the form of heat that can be fed back into the local district heating system and used by neighbouring businesses.
For example, once operational, our North East facility will be able to generate 6MW of heat. This is enough to power around 700 homes.
This can provide renewable energy in the form of heat for local businesses and to any other premises within approximately one mile of the site that wish to use it.
Emissions
The Fornax North East facility will be safe and fully compliant with the latest UK and EU legislation. The plant has been designed with the best available proven techniques from Europe and will be operated and monitored to the highest standards.
Some 99.5% of the flu gas emissions will be oxygen, nitrogen, water vapour and CO2. Just 0.5% will be made up from Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide, particulates and other organic compounds. At these levels, they will have no significant impact on local air quality or anyone’s health.
The independent air quality report – undertaken by leading global environmental and engineering consultancy AECOM for Durham County Council – looked closely at the plans and concluded that Fornax will use the best available techniques and environmental management systems to ensure emissions will be well below any statutory limits.
Air quality and human health was considered extensively when planning permission was granted. In his Appeal Decision report the Planning Inspector states:
“I have concluded that the appeal scheme would not materially harm human health and that it would not have an unacceptable environmental impact.”
You can read more about the Planning Appeal document in our FAQs.
We are legally obliged to ensure that we operate our facilities below the emission limits set out in UK and EU legislation in the Industrial Emissions Directive and the requirements set out in the DEFRA issued Waste Incineration Directive (WID).
Emissions Limit Values (ELV’s) are set out in the Industrial Emissions Directive which was established in 2010 and tightened in 2019 as shown below.
Emissions
Key Emission Limit Values for Waste Incinerators (as per IED and BAT Conclusions)
The most critical pollutants and their standards emissions limits (all values are daily averages unless otherwise specified, measured at 11% O₂, dry gas)
| Pollutant | ELV (mg/Nm³) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Total dust (particulates) | 10 | Half-hour average value |
| Total Organic Carbon (TOC) | 10 | Half-hour average value |
| Hydrogen chloride (HCl) | 10 | Half-hour average value |
| Hydrogen fluoride (HF) | 1 | Half-hour average value |
| Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) | 50 | Half-hour average value |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx, as NO₂) | 200 (400 for old plants) | Half-hour average value |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 50 | Daily average value; 100 half-hour max |
| Mercury (Hg) | 0.05 | Measured over minimum 30-minute, max 8-hour sample |
| Cadmium + thallium (Cd+Tl) | 0.05 | Same as above |
| Other heavy metals (As, Pb, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, V) | 0.5 | Same as above |
| Dioxins and furans | 0.1 ng I-TEQ/Nm³ | Over 6-8-hour sampling |
Our technology, facility design and operating process are designed to ensure that we remain well under these emission limits and at very safe amounts.
If we do not operate any of our facilities within these standards this will constitute a breach of standards, which we are legally required to report to the Environment Agency.
Should a breach occur, we have a maximum of four hours to correct it or to shut down the facility.
Fornax is legally required to monitor emissions on a continuous basis and report any breaches to the Environment Agency as well as submitting data to the Agency as and when it is required.
Noise, odour and dust
Noise, odour and dust
We do not anticipate any significant noise, odour or dust being produced by our facilities that would impact on our neighbours.
We will carefully choose our locations and have carefully planned our facility design and operating practices to ensure this is the case. For example:
- When delivery vehicles arrive, waste materials contained in sealed containers will be unloaded directly into our warehouse.
- All operations take place inside the enclosed facility.
- All waste storage takes places inside.
- Fast-opening / fast-closing shutter doors are in place.
- An odour abatement system is built into the design.
Traffic volumes and delivery routes and times
The materials that we submit to local authorities for a planning application will specify delivery routes, anticipated/maximum volumes of waste delivery vehicles and delivery times. We then anticipate these will be adopted as planning conditions by local authorities if we are granted planning permission.
Whilst the specifics may vary from project to project, we anticipate that our first facility, which is being constructed in North East England, will be a good example of the traffic volumes, permitted hours of delivery and the approach we will take.
- We will not exceed an average of 30 vehicle movements per day for waste delivery vehicles (this equates to 15 vehicles entering and then leaving the facility) within any given 30-day period.
- Deliveries are only permitted between 6am – 10pm Monday to Friday and 6am-12noon at weekends
- We have agreed a set route with Durham County Council planners for our vehicles to enter and exit the site and to journey to the main road network which minimises the number of residential properties they will travel past.
Traffic volumes and delivery routes and times
Drainage
Our facilities have been carefully designed and developed to prevent any leakage to normal drains or the surrounding area.
There will be three levels of containment to prevent any leakage.
- The primary containment is the secure container holding the waste.
- The secondary containment is the fully concreted floor of the facility which has been designed to contain any leakage that does occur within the building.
- The third level of containment, which will be used in the unlikely event that these first two fail, is the external yard of the facility, which is concreted and kerbed to create an impermeable surface and concrete bund, meaning if any material did escape the building, it is contained on the premises and then taken away by tanker.
Design standards
Our commitment to sustainability extends to the design of our facilities. We are incorporating smart architectural solutions to meet BREEAM “Very Good” standards, ensuring we minimise our own carbon footprint. Additionally, through the recovery of process energy, we are meeting the rigorous R1 standards, further enhancing our environmental performance.
Together, we are making a lasting positive impact on the environment, while supporting the transition to a cleaner, greener future for all.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for infrastructure and buildings. A BREEAM “Very Good” rating is awarded to facilities that demonstrate very good environmental, energy, and sustainability performance across their entire lifecycle – from design and construction to operation.
This reflects our commitment to:
- Low energy use and reduced carbon emissions
- Efficient use of water, materials, and resources
- Healthy working environments for staff
- Minimised environmental impact on local communities and ecosystems
By aiming for BREEAM “Very Good,” Fornax ensures that our operations are not only safe and compliant, but also future-ready, climate-conscious, and built with sustainability at their core.
Sustainability Matters
Sustainability Matters
- Provision for sufficient ELV charging
- Carbon miles significantly reduced
- Solar PV utilised
- Construction built to BREEAM Very Good standard
- Surplus heat distributed into district heating network
- Active facility monitoring to ensure air quality