A public consultation on proposals to replace an ageing Stoke-on-Trent Energy from Waste plant has gone live.

Residents are now being asked to have their say on Stoke-on-Trent City Council's proposals to replace the ageing Hanford Energy from Waste plant with a "modern, cleaner and more efficient" Energy Recovery Facility (ERF).

A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: "The new facility would deliver cleaner air, more locally generated power, low-carbon heating and better long-term value for council taxpayers.

"It would be built on a site next to the existing Energy from Waste plant, which has treated the city's non-recyclable waste for around 30 years but is nearing the end of its working life."

The council explained that the new ERF would be designed to treat between 230,000-290,000 tonnes of waste per year and provide a more environmentally sustainable alternative for non-recyclable waste.

The proposal is that the new ERF would be located immediately next to the existing Hanford Energy from Waste facility (often referred to locally as the 'Sideway Incinerator'), just off the Sideway Roundabout (Queensway A500).

Once the new ERF is operational, the existing plant would be decommissioned and demolished.

The proposal would also require the Hanford Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) to be relocated.

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The council is exploring a number of options, including a temporary arrangement whereby all residents would use the Burslem HWRC on Federation Road.

Changes would be made to the Burslem site to accommodate the temporary increased demand and the council stressed that a commitment remains to ensure that, long-term, the south of the city is serviced by a dedicated and conveniently located HWRC facility.

More details will be provided when they are available.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "The Hanford Energy from Waste plant has done a great job treating the city's non-recyclable rubbish for the last 30 years, but it is nearing the end of its serviceable life and we need to look at what comes next.

"It is vital that the council continues to have a reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way of treating the city's rubbish.

"We have carefully explored a number of options, including refurbishing the existing plant and sending our waste elsewhere for treatment.

"But the financial modelling and scenario-testing exercises have consistently returned the same conclusion: that building a new plant would seem to be the best long-term option, from both an environmental and financial perspective.

"I am pleased that today the council can share more details of the proposals and I would encourage local residents to read about them and then provide their feedback. We want to hear your views."

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The consultation will be open until 5pm on Friday 26 June 2026.

More details of the proposals and a feedback survey can be found at the Stoke-on-Trent City Council website here.

Paper copies of the survey can be found at local Stoke-on-Trent City Council Libraries and two drop-in information events will be held in June:

• Friday 12 June 2026 (11am-3pm) at Stoke Indoor Market
• Saturday 13 June 2026 (10am-2pm) at Stoke Indoor Market