Future of Surrey’s Eco Park confirmed

Surrey’s position as one of the country’s leading areas for re-use and recycling is to be further strengthened with the future of the Eco Park confirmed with partner SUEZ recycling and recovery UK (SUEZ).

The Eco Park, in Charlton Lane, Shepperton, treats all of Surrey’s collected food waste, and black bag waste from Spelthorne, Runnymede and Elmbridge, generating enough electricity to power over 4,000 homes per year.

Now the site is fully operational, an agreement has been reached with operator SUEZ to continue to run the site up to 2029[1].

Plans for the future include a state-of-the-art ‘re-use and recycling hub’ which will enable residents to upcycle and repurpose unwanted items such as electrical goods, bicycles, and furniture while also offering a community space.

Over 4,000 tonnes of soil improver for agriculture are being provided to farmers annually and its existing on-site re-use shop helped to divert over 1,000 tonnes of waste away from disposal in 2022, whilst also helping to raise over £57,000 for Surrey charities since 2018.

Natalie Bramhall, Cabinet Member for Property and Waste at Surrey County Council said: “The Eco Park is a key part of Surrey County Council’s ambition to be one of the UK’s leaders when it comes to recycling and sustainability.

“We are proud to already be the third best performing county council in England for recycling and committed to doing even more to improve recycling rates and reduce residual waste volumes further over the next decade.

“The Eco Park provides vital services for local residents and I am delighted that with the legal dispute resolved and facilities working well, we can look to the future and expanding its offering for the benefit of local communities.”

Paul Leighton, Regional Director for Energy South for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK said: “We look forward to beginning this new chapter of partnership with Surrey County Council and building on the progress we have made in the last 24 years of working together. With the challenges facing the energy sector this year, the facilities at the Eco Park have a vital role to play in contributing to the national grid and putting Surrey’s waste to good use. Over the next five years, we plan to move even more material up the waste hierarchy, working together to expand re-use and repair in Surrey.”

Following resolution of a legal dispute which saw both parties entering into a Settlement Agreement, the county council’s current waste contractor, SUEZ, will continue to operate the Eco Park in Spelthorne and run a number of waste disposal services across the county until 2029.