Last year, South West Hygiene continued its push towards a more sustainable future by diverting 412 tonnes of waste away from landfill and sending it instead to energy recovery centres.
Rather than being buried in the ground, this waste was used for energy recovery, where it was safely incinerated to generate electricity. That energy didn’t go to waste either. It was fed directly into the national grid, helping power homes in your communities.
How Much Energy Does Waste Really Produce?
Energy recovery facilities typically generate between 500 and 600 kWh of electricity per tonne of waste. Based on this:
- 412 tonnes at 500 kWh per tonne = ~206,000 kWh
- 412 tonnes at 600 kWh per tonne = ~247,200 kWh
That’s a substantial amount of clean, usable electricity generated from material that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
What Does That Mean for Homes?
The average UK household uses around 3,500 kWh of electricity per year. When we break the numbers down:
- 206,000 kWh could power approximately 59 homes for a year
- 247,200 kWh could power approximately 71 homes for a year
The Bigger Picture
By redirecting waste to energy recovery, at South West Hygiene we didn’t just reduce landfill, we helped generate enough electricity to power around 60–70 average UK homes for an entire year.
This is a powerful reminder that waste doesn’t have to be the end of the line. With the right infrastructure and commitment, it can become part of the solution — supporting energy generation, reducing environmental impact, and contributing to a more circular economy.
Every tonne counts, and last year’s results show just how meaningful those choices can be.
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