Essex Greenhouse Powers Tomatoes With Household Waste

In a bold step toward low-carbon food production, a 40-hectare greenhouse complex in Essex is set to harness energy from incinerated household waste to grow tomatoes. Scheduled to begin operations by 2027, the project—led by waste management firm Indaver—will be Europe’s largest of its kind, offering a glimpse into the future of sustainable agriculture in the UK.

Located at the Rivenhall site, the facility will not only produce food but also generate its own energy from the very waste households discard. Gareth Jones of Indaver explained that the site’s boiler will convert waste into steam, which will then be used in two ways: to produce electricity via a turbine and to supply hot water for the greenhouse heating system through a specially designed heat exchanger. “The boiler produces steam and some of that steam we’ll divert to our new heat exchanger to create hot water for the greenhouses,” Jones said. “The rest of the steam powers a turbine to generate electricity, some of which will also supply the site.”

This integration of waste management and food production is expected to yield significant environmental benefits. Notably, it will reduce carbon emissions by 20% compared to traditional landfill disposal, where methane—a potent greenhouse gas—escapes from decomposing rubbish. By diverting almost all of Essex’s household waste from landfill, the Rivenhall project not only addresses a major waste management challenge but also contributes meaningfully to the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.

Beyond its climate impact, the project has considerable implications for national food security. Once operational, the Rivenhall greenhouses are expected to produce around 6% of the UK’s tomato supply. In a country where nearly 80% of tomatoes are currently imported, this marks a significant contribution. According to project director Ed Moorhouse, this development could also help reshore approximately 8% of tomato imports, particularly those from Spain, Morocco, and the Netherlands.

The current import-heavy model has raised serious environmental concerns. Many of these tomatoes are grown in industrial farms located in drought-prone regions such as southern Spain’s Almeria, where water scarcity is intensifying. “Water scarcity and extreme temperatures in regions like North Africa and southern Spain highlight the unsustainable nature of our current supply model,” Moorhouse said. By growing tomatoes locally in controlled greenhouse conditions, the Rivenhall project offers a more sustainable and resilient alternative that minimizes transport emissions and reduces pressure on fragile ecosystems abroad.

However, while the project is being lauded for its circular economy approach and climate advantages, it faces potential regulatory hurdles. A major point of contention lies with the UK’s biodiversity net gain (BNG) policy, which requires all new developments to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before. This includes actions like planting trees or creating new habitats—challenges that may not align easily with the infrastructure-heavy nature of commercial horticulture.

Martin Emmett, chair of the National Farmers’ Union’s Horticulture and Potatoes Board, voiced concern over the policy’s impact on such projects. “Projects like Rivenhall risk being held back by regulations not tailored to horticulture’s unique sustainability opportunities,” he warned. While the policy aims to promote nature-positive development, critics argue it lacks the flexibility to accommodate innovative agricultural ventures that, while not directly enhancing biodiversity on-site, deliver substantial climate and food security benefits.

The Rivenhall project thus finds itself at the intersection of multiple urgent priorities—cutting emissions, reducing waste, improving food self-sufficiency, and preserving biodiversity. How the government and regulatory bodies respond could set a precedent for future projects combining agriculture with green energy.

As the UK continues to navigate its path toward net zero and greater food resilience, Rivenhall may well become a test case. Success here could pave the way for similar facilities across the country, proving that with the right support, innovation can thrive even in the face of complex environmental and regulatory challenges.