On Monday 28^th November 2022 Mr. S. Draper, Miss. M. Dykes-Swindell and Ms. Z. Adams organised a visit to the Cardiff Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) for a group of pupils that attend eco-club. 

The pupils received a talk about the five stages of waste and discussed reusing, reducing, recycling, recovering and disposing.  The pupils were then given a talk explaining how the ERF works and given routine health and safety information.  Before the tour of the facility the pupils equipped themselves with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to include safety helmets, high-visibility jackets, gloves and safety glasses. 

The tour including a visit to the tipping hall, where waste is unloaded upon its arrival, the pupils then visited the control room where grab crane operators mixed the waste in the waste bunker.  While in the control room the pupils could feel a vibration on the ground, which was caused as underlying machinery synchronised. 

One of the highlights of the visit was a view of the fire in the furnace, which was burning waste at high temperatures.  The pupils finally seen how ash is stored after metal has been separated, which will be transported to be used as an aggregate for road building and other construction products.