Sutton Council Questions Viridor's Environmental Record

5 November 2025

Sutton Council has raised concerns about the environmental compliance record of Viridor, the operator of the Beddington Energy Recovery Facility (ERF), during a council meeting on Monday, 3 November 2025.

The scrutiny comes amid ongoing questions about the facility's environmental impact and its alignment with the council's climate objectives.

Councillor Jillian Green questioned Councillor Christopher Woolmer, Chair of the Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee, about the council's continued promotion of the facility, given its history of environmental permit breaches. Councillor Green asked, Does the Council consider it appropriate to promote a facility with such a poor environmental compliance record, and how does this align with its stated climate objectives?

In response to concerns about the 916 environmental permit breaches, Councillor Woolmer stated that the council does not seek to promote the site as such. However, he added that enabling residents to be informed about the site's operations forms part of its wider approach to education on waste management.

Councillor Foster also raised concerns about the impact of NO2 emissions from the incinerator on health, referencing a recent local committee discussion about Parkinson's disease.

These questions follow a period in which, according to Councillor Green, Viridor has breached its environmental permit 916 times. Councillor Dave Tchil noted that there had been 916 exceedances at the incinerator in just a year and a half, in addition to others that have occurred throughout its lifetime.

Councillor Nick Mattey asked what measures the Council is taking to calculate and account for the additional greenhouse gas emissions arising from the incinerator producing excessive amounts of nitrous oxide for the last 14 months, and how these are factored into the Borough's climate strategy. He also asked, How locking customers into extended SDEN contracts thereby entrenching reliance on the incinerator is compatible with its declared climate emergency and net zero ambitions?

Councillor Wendy Clark asked, Following the verified 900 breaches of emissions from Viridor, what is the Lead Member's view now that we have clear evidence the issue is not limited to steam, as has previously been claimed?

These questions, detailed in the Questions to Council Agenda Supplement, highlight ongoing scrutiny of Viridor's operations and the council's commitment to environmental responsibility.

Councils Involved

Sutton

Meetings Involved

the Council of Sutton Council on 3 November 2025

People Involved

Eric Allen Local Conservatives Cheam

Martina Allen Chair: Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee Local Conservatives Worcester Park South

Steve Alvarez Local Conservatives St Helier West

Councillor Isabel Araujo Vice Chair: Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee; Vice Chair: Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Helen Bailey

Councillor Rob Beck Vice Chair: People Committee Liberal Democrat Stonecot

Moira Butt Local Conservatives Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Richard Choi Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Imran Choudhury

Wendy Clark Local Conservatives St Helier West

Councillor Richard Clifton Vice Chair: Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Councillor Paul Cole Vice Chair: People Committee Liberal Democrat St Helier East

Tim Crowley Local Conservatives Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Sam Cumber Chair: Sutton Local Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton North

Bobby Dean Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Ruth Dombey Vice Chair: Sutton Local Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton North

Tom Drummond Leader of the Opposition Local Conservatives Worcester Park North

Mike Dwyer Local Conservatives North Cheam

Councillor Qasim Esak Vice Chair: Scrutiny Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Trish Fivey Chair: Licensing Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Tim Foster Leader of the Sutton Independent Residents Group Sutton Independent Residents Beddington

Neil Garratt Local Conservatives Belmont

Peter Geiringer Local Conservatives Worcester Park South

Councillor Sunita Gordon Lead Member for Resources Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Catherine Gray Local Conservatives St Helier West

Jillian Green Sutton Independent Residents Beddington

David Hicks Local Conservatives Belmont

Marian James Chair: People Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Councillor Andrew Jenner Chair: Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Councillor Edward Joyce Chair: Scrutiny Committee, Vice Chair: Beddington and Wallington Local Committee Liberal Democrat South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Barry Lewis Leader of the Council Liberal Democrat Wallington North

Bryony Lindsay-Charlton Local Conservatives Sutton North

Patrick Magnus Local Conservatives South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Sam Martin Deputy Leader of the Council Liberal Democrat Wallington South

Councillor Nick Mattey Sutton Independent Residents Beddington

Councillor Jayne McCoy Chair: Planning Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington South

James McDermott-Hill Deputy Leader of the Opposition Local Conservatives North Cheam

Councillor Cryss Mennaceur Chair: Pension Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Councillor Gemma Munday Liberal Democrat St Helier East

Param Nandha Vice Chair: North Cheam, Stonecot and Worcester Park Local Committee Local Conservatives North Cheam

Patrick Ogbonna Chair: Hackbridge, St Helier and the Wrythe Local Committee Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Spencer Palmer

Councillor Ed Parsley Vice Chair: Housing, Economy and Business Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton Central

Jane Pascoe Vice Chair: Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Local Conservatives Belmont

Jonathan Pearce Local Conservatives South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Louise Phelan Mayor Liberal Democrat Sutton South

Joe Quick Local Conservatives Worcester Park North

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq Chair: Beddington and Wallington Local Committee Liberal Democrat Wallington South

Councillor Cumar Sahathevan Deputy Mayor, Vice Chair: Licensing Committee Liberal Democrat Stonecot

Tony Shields Chair: Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee Local Conservatives Cheam

Councillor Jake Short Chair: Housing, Economy and Business Committee Liberal Democrat Carshalton Central

Richard Simpson

Councillor Colin Stears Chair, Audit and Governance Committee; Vice Chair, Hackbridge, St Helier and the Wrythe Local Committee Liberal Democrat The Wrythe

Luke Taylor Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Dave Tchil Leader of the Labour Group Labour Hackbridge

Vanessa Udall Local Conservatives Cheam

Sheldon Vestey Labour Hackbridge

Councillor Lisa Webster Liberal Democrat Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Christopher Woolmer Chair: Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee Liberal Democrat Sutton West and East Cheam

Topics

Viridor Beddington Energy Recovery Facility Environmental Compliance Sutton Council Borough's climate strategy NO2 emissions