--- title: "Leeds Recycling & Energy Recovery Facility (RERF)" url: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/project/leeds-recycling-energy-recovery-facility/" type: projects date_published: 2025-04-25 date_modified: 2026-05-06 schema: @type: WebPage language: en-IE word_count: 630 reading_time: 4 min canonical: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/project/leeds-recycling-energy-recovery-facility/" featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/energy-from-waste-leeds-2380x1500-1.jpg" type-market: - Energy - "Water & Environment" project-market: - "Energy & Power" - Energy Recovery project-location: - England type-service: - Environmental Services - Infrastructure Engineering --- # Leeds Recycling & Energy Recovery Facility (RERF) ![Leeds Recycling & Energy Recovery Facility (RERF)](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/energy-from-waste-leeds-2380x1500-1.jpg) ### An ambitious scheme to improve future recycling facilities **SYSTRA was the appointed designers and licensed assessors for the landmark Leeds facility, boasting Europe’s largest biomass wall and timber frame structure.** This iconic structure takes in 214,000t/annum for MRF processing. 179,580t/annum is then processed in the energy centre to generate up to 11MWe. The facility was assessed under both BREEAM and CEEQUAL, achieving “excellent” ratings under both assessment methods with final certified scores of 73.5% and 80.5% respectively. Throughout the process we worked closely with the entire project team to deliver against sustainability aspirations and wider project objectives whilst ensuring full compliance with the relevant BREEAM and CEEQUAL standards. ![energy-from-waste-leeds1024x760](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/energy-from-waste-leeds1024x760.jpg) ### a sTRUCTURE DESIGNED FOR BIODIVERSITY The facility boasts one of the largest biomass walls of its kind in Europe; an extensive living wall and landscaping strategy alongside habitat creation enhances biodiversity in the area. The timber frame, the largest timber structure of its kind in Europe, stands at 42m high and 150m in length, integrating sustainable elements throughout the design and materials used, including rainwater harvesting and drainage techniques (all rainwater harvested is used to water the wall). Before opening its doors to the public, Leeds RERF was awarded Project of the Year at the Structural Timber Awards 2015. ![l3-markets-ev-energy-from-waste-1024x645](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/04/l3-markets-ev-energy-from-waste-1024x645-1.jpg) ![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/leeds-rerf-modern-methods-of-construction.png) #### Modern methods of construction applied in Leeds RERF Project As part of the TRU East alliance, we proposed a tunnelling solution that minimised the impact on the existing line and reduced waste that would have been generated with a typical top-down construction approach. Precast concrete culvert units were pushed under the active line resulting in zero accidents and increasing the net biodiversity on the project. 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