SUEZ confirms its position as a leading player in France in the operation of Energy-from-Waste Plants through a Major New Contract in Calce (66)

Building on Sydetom66’s ongoing initiatives to meet the territory’s needs and in full compliance with France’s Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law (AGEC), this project will enable the local treatment of waste generated by 500,000 residents, while also handling the additional volumes during the tourist season, when the population in the area rises to nearly one million. The existing energy-from-waste plant has a capacity of 240,000 tonnes per year, while the new sorting centre will process 40,000 tonnes annually, and from 2028, the preparation centre for non-recyclable waste from waste collection centres will be able to treat up to 36,000 tonnes per year.

This new contract is part of Sydetom66’s long-term investment strategy to manage locally the waste of residents in the Pyrénées-Orientales department and 18 municipalities in the Aude department.

Turning Waste into Positive Energy for the Territory

As part of a circular economy and energy transition strategy, the infrastructure is being redesigned by the SUEZ-Banque des Territoires consortium in partnership with local stakeholders to recycle an additional 30% of household packaging, boost energy production for the benefit of the territory, and diversify its energy mix.

The project includes the construction of a new, larger-capacity sorting centre built to modern standards, alongside a preparation centre for non-recyclable waste from waste collection centres, operated by the local company Ourry. This facility will produce a high-calorific fuel for the energy-from-waste plant.

Optimising the plant’s operation will significantly increase energy output, generating 55,000 MWh of heat for urban heating networks and 135,000 MWh of electricity per year from 2028—enough to power the annual electricity needs of 28,125 households.

Preserving, Optimising and Diversifying Local Resources

The infrastructure transformation marks a milestone for the region, with increased energy production, local recycling of incineration bottom ash, and its commercial use by the Catalan company VAILLS as road sub-bases and fill materials.

The project’s environmental impact will be carefully managed, notably through an electric vehicle fleet, which will prevent 170,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the course of the contract. Optimisation of the industrial processes across these three strategic infrastructures will also save 37,000 m³ of water annually equivalent to the consumption of a town of 900 residents.

To ensure harmonious integration into the landscape, SUEZ and the Banque des Territoires have designed a project that is in keeping with the architecture of the existing buildings, redeveloping part of the old centre to limit the site’s footprint. On a societal level, the project includes a completely redesigned visitor experience, open to local schools and associations, to raise awareness among all audiences about waste reduction and recycling.

Bruno Valiente, President of Sydetom66: “This new contract marks a significant milestone for Sydetom66. It reflects our commitment to delivering efficient and sustainable waste management at controlled costs, while supporting local development and environmental protection. Every euro invested in this partnership with SUEZ and the Banque des Territoires will generate new local value. The Arc Iris site, established over twenty years ago, will be reinforced, and the new infrastructure will continue our longstanding approach to waste treatment while safeguarding the natural environment of our beautiful department. It has taken three years of dedicated work to produce a proposal that meets our ambitions for this emblematic site in the Catalan territory.”