EA to Approve Viridor’s Beddington Toxic Waste Increase Amid Breaches

Key Points

• The Environment Agency (EA) is “minded” to approve Viridor’s application to increase incineration at the Beddington plant from 275,000 tonnes to 380,000 tonnes annually, despite 916 licence breaches between September 2022 and March 2024.
• Viridor failed to report these breaches and continued exceeding limits, including a sulphur dioxide emission of 382.4 mg/m³ in October, nearly double the permitted daily limit.
• Emissions from the plant’s twin chimneys typically travel with prevailing winds over Hackbridge, Wallington, Broad Green, Waddon, and parts of northern Croydon.
• The decision emerged at a community liaison group meeting in Sutton last week.
• Independent councillor Tim Foster criticised the EA for ignoring increased HGV lorry traffic, estimated at an additional 7,500 journeys, often through Croydon and along the Purley Way.
• Sutton Council’s air monitors recorded no issues despite the NO² exceedances.
• Viridor’s 2012 £1 billion, 25-year contract with the South London Waste Partnership (Sutton, Kingston, Merton, Croydon) originally set the tonnage at 275,000.
• Foster described the plant as “the original blot on the landscape” and accused Viridor of broken promises on habitat recovery, pollution control, and disdain for Beddington and Hackbridge residents.
• Sutton Council leader Barry Lewis wrote to the EA and DEFRA citing “erosion of trust” and expressing astonishment at the consideration.
• Environmentalist Jim Duffy called the decision “alarming” and requested a local health impact study, noting the Office for National Statistics has ceased publishing infant mortality rates by ward for five years.
• Historical context includes planning permission granted by Boris Johnson as Mayor of London, Croydon Tories’ misleading leaflets, and Labour leader Tony Newman’s 2014 admission on BBC Radio London about radioactive waste provisions.
• Viridor pays £1.4 million annually in business rates to Sutton Council.
• The EA reports to DEFRA, formerly led by Secretary of State Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North since 2012.
• Sutton Council accused of “hoisting the white flag”; one councillor allegedly claimed emissions were only steam.
• The meeting was supposed to be chaired by MP and Liberal Democrat councillor Bobby Dean.

Sutton (South London News) January 22, 2026 – The Environment Agency has indicated it is “minded” to grant Viridor permission to burn significantly more waste at its Beddington incinerator, despite the operator’s repeated breaches of emission limits. Local authorities and campaigners expressed outrage over the proposal, which comes amid ongoing pollution concerns affecting south London communities. Viridor, a multi-billion-pound American-owned firm, seeks to raise its annual incineration capacity from 275,000 tonnes to 380,000 tonnes.

What Triggered the Environment Agency’s Decision?

The EA’s stance surfaced at a community liaison group meeting in Sutton last week, as reported in the initial coverage. An EA representative stated the agency would ignore the rise in heavy goods vehicle (HGV) lorries delivering waste, deeming it a “planning issue”. Estimates project an extra 7,500 lorry movements to and from the site, routing through Croydon and the Purley Way, exacerbating local traffic and air quality woes.

Sutton Council’s air monitoring stations detected no problems, even after 916 NO² exceedances over 18 months from September 2022 to March 2024. Viridor neither reported these failures nor curbed them, with recent incidents including October’s sulphur dioxide release of 382.4 mg/m³ – almost double the daily limit and off-scale on public charts. Prevailing winds direct emissions from the twin chimneys towards Hackbridge, Wallington, Broad Green, Waddon, and northern Croydon.

Why Are Locals Accusing Sutton Council of Surrendering?

Sutton Council faces claims of “hoisting the white flag” following these acidic emissions. Councillor Barry “Basher” Lewis, the council leader, penned stern letters to the EA and DEFRA, lamenting an “erosion of trust”. As quoted in the reporting, Lewis wrote: “It is important that our residents have confidence in the ability of agencies like yours to provide the highest levels of regulation.” He added: “We are astonished that the EA is still even considering this. This is unequivocally the wrong decision.”

Independent Beddington councillor Tim Foster labeled the plant “the original blot on the landscape”. Foster remarked:

“Promises made about energy recovery should have been couched in terms of revenue recovery on behalf of the operator.”

He highlighted Viridor’s unfulfilled commitments on Beddington Farmlands habitat recovery, pollution management failures, and “a total disdain for the residents of Beddington and Hackbridge”.

The liaison group last convened in September, revealing the 916 breaches; last week’s session was slated for chairing by local MP and Liberal Democrat councillor Bobby Dean. Critics note Sutton’s Liberal Democrats only recently voiced concerns, despite Viridor’s £1.4 million annual business rates contribution.

What Is Viridor’s History with the Beddington Incinerator?

Viridor secured a 25-year, £1 billion contract in 2012 with the South London Waste Partnership – comprising Sutton, Kingston, Merton, and Croydon councils – for 275,000 tonnes yearly. The facility gained planning permission under Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London. Pre-agreement, Croydon Conservatives, including cabinet member Jason Perry, circulated leaflets denying an incinerator in Croydon, despite the site straddling the Sutton border.

In 2014, Croydon Labour leader Tony Newman, live on BBC Radio London, conceded the contract permitted radioactive waste incineration, pledging no action. One Sutton councillor reportedly claimed at a meeting that stack emissions were merely “steam”, prompting cover-up allegations.

Who Is Jim Duffy and What Health Concerns Does He Raise?

Jim Duffy, a respected Carshalton environmentalist, deemed the EA’s position “alarming news”. As told to Inside Croydon, Duffy stated:

“I asked the agency to commission a local study on the health impact of the incinerator in my submission to their consultation on the proposed increase.”

He lamented the Office for National Statistics halting ward-level infant mortality data for five years, hindering analysis.

Duffy’s call underscores fears for residents’ health, with ordinary Croydon and Sutton folk potentially “wheezing” from heightened pollution.

Why Is the Environment Agency Under Fire?

The EA, dubbed a “toothless watchdog” for inaction on water company pollution, answers to DEFRA. Until recently, DEFRA’s Secretary of State was Steve Reed, Croydon North MP since 2012. Viridor, with its motto implied as “where there’s muck, there’s billions of public money”, profits amid breaches. The EA’s “minded to” approval persists despite escalating failures post-application.

How Does This Affect South London Communities?

Hackbridge and Wallington bear the brunt, with emissions wafting borough-wide. Increased tonnage means more lorries, noise, and particulates. Foster’s critique frames it as revenue over recovery, eroding community trust.

What Happens Next in the Consultation Process?

The EA’s consultation remains open; public input could sway the final verdict. Activists urge rejection, citing breaches as disqualifying. Councils’ mild rebukes contrast grassroots fury, positioning this as a test of regulatory resolve.