local area. Rainham Landfill is operated by Veolia ES Landfill Limited. The site occupies an area of 177 hectares, and accepts up to 1,500,000 tonnes per year. This includes up to 70,000 tonnes per year in a Materials Recovery Facility and 70,000 tonnes per year of Green Waste. There are facilities for soil washing and a Leachate Treatment Plant. The decomposition of organic matter within the landfill generates a gas containing up to about 50 percent methane. This landfill gas is collected by a network of pipes and since 2001 has been used in an onsite power station. The station is owned and operated by EDL. The plant comprises eight 1.25 MW, three 1.4 MW, two 1.1 MW and one 1.0 MW reciprocating engines which drive electricity generating sets. The electricity produced is fed into the National Grid. The station has a generating capacity of 17.8 MW and typically generates 95 GWh of electricity per year. This is equivalent to powering 14,600 homes. The site is expected to produce landfill gas for electricity generation to beyond 2030. See also List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater London List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Essex Havering parks and open spaces References External links RSBP Rainham Marshes RSBP Rainham Marshes nature reserve visitlondon Nature reserves in the London Borough of Havering Sites of Special Scientific Interest in London Thurrock Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Havering Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Essex Local nature reserves in Greater London