Cory Riverside

Cory is one of the UK’s leading waste management and recycling companies. It operates one of the country’s largest Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities, with a unique river-based infrastructure on the River Thames for delivering waste.

Closing London’s treatment gap

Cory receives over 900,000 tonnes of non-recyclable black bag waste each year. Once processed, the waste is transported by barge down the river to Riverside 1, Cory’s EfW facility in Belvedere. By using the river as a green highway, Cory eliminates around 100,000 truck movements each year – cutting congestion and emissions across the capital.

Inside Riverside 1, residual waste is burned and turned into baseload energy for the National Grid. Valuable metals are recovered for recycling, while bottom ash and other residues are processed into construction materials, keeping resources in circulation.

Cory’s operations are tightly controlled, with stack emissions performing well below permitted limits (e.g., PM₁₀ levels are around 93% under the cap).

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Impact & FAST-Infra Label recognition on Resources & Circularity

•  916,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste diverted from landfill (2024)
•  576 GWh of electricity generated (2024)
• 807,000 tonnes of waste processed (2024)
• Power generated for 213,000 homes (2024)
• A carbon benefit of 290,000 tonnes of CO2e delivered to the UK economy in 2024
• Scored 100/100 in the GRESB Infrastructure Assessment for 2025, achieving a 5-star rating for the sixth consecutive year. Awarded sector leader in two categories:
  
  • Environmental Services: Waste Treatment - Infrastructure Asset Class Leader
  • Environmental Services: Infrastructure Asset Super Class Leader

_{Data sources: https://www.dalmorecapital.com/policies-and-documents/, https://www.dalmorecapital.com/our-investments/cory/, https://www.corygroup.co.uk/future-growth/riverside-energy-park, https://giia.net/case-studies/cory-riverside-energy}‍

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Cory has earned the FAST-Infra Label Self-Assessed claiming the positive contribution of the Resources & Circularity criteria. This recognition reflects how the project embeds circular practices and their climate co-benefits in day-to-day delivery: treating residual waste locally (avoiding landfill methane), shifting transport to river barges (reducing congestion on London’s road), and generating baseload, partially renewable power.

Learn more about the FAST-Infra Label Criteria.

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Meeting rising demand for local waste treatment

Cory is planning to invest more than £900 million in its operations and river infrastructure over the coming years. The delivery of Riverside 2, a second EfW facility next to Cory’s existing facility in Belvedere, continues to progress and is on schedule to begin commissioning in late 2025.

Using proven moving grate technology and sharing infrastructure with Riverside 1, the new facility will process 650,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste generating enough electricity to power 176,000 homes each year.

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A bigger, cleaner local solution

Cory is taking meaningful strides toward decarbonising both its business and its communities. It recently announced plans for the UK’s first large-scale heat transmission system, designed to capture the heat produced during the EfW process and deliver it to around 300,000 homes and businesses across London – providing a direct carbon benefit where it matters most.

Cory is also committed to capturing the carbon dioxide emitted by Riverside 1 and Riverside 2 through its Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project and transporting it via ship for storage under the North Sea, ensuring every part of its operations supports a low-carbon future.

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Dougie Sutherland, CEO of Cory, said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded the FAST‑Infra Label, recognising our commitment to delivering sustainable infrastructure at scale. This achievement reflects the dedication of our people and the progress we are making to embed low‑carbon solutions across every part of our business. By investing in innovation and circular, river‑first systems, we are demonstrating how waste management can deliver real climate benefits to the communities we serve.”

Alistair Ray, Cory Board Member/Partner and CIO, Dalmore Capital, said: “Cory stands out as an industry leader in innovation – not only through its significant contribution to the circular economy but also through its bold ambition to establish itself as a central hub for emissions reduction initiatives in London. By leveraging river-based logistics, advanced Energy-from-Waste technology, and pioneering projects such as large-scale heat networks and carbon capture, Cory is redefining what sustainable infrastructure looks like in an urban context. The award of the FAST-Infra Label is a powerful endorsement of this approach, recognising Cory’s commitment to embedding climate-positive solutions into its operations and its pivotal role in accelerating the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”