Dust suppression at SUEZ Severnside: controlling dust from waste to protect people and reduce fire risk

At Energy from Waste sites (EfW), dust control is not just about cleanliness. Dust from waste can quickly become a safety risk, impacting air quality, housekeeping, and in worst cases contributing to fire hazards.

At SUEZ Severnside Energy Recovery Centre in South Gloucestershire, SUEZ processes residual waste from multiple West London boroughs at a large scale, with a consented capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year and electricity exported to the National Grid. This is a demanding environment where effective site dust suppression must be reliable, targeted, and able to respond quickly when conditions change.

This case study covers how our dust suppression system at Severnside combines two complementary dust suppression solutions: an installed AtomisterAiro for daily, at-source control, and an installed MistCannon dust suppression unit that helps tackle dust spikes during waste handling.

Site overview: Severnside Energy Recovery Centre

Severnside Energy Recovery Centre forms part of SUEZ’s long-term partnership with the West London Waste Authority. It handles residual waste from the London boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames, turning waste into energy and helping reduce reliance on landfill.

With high throughputs and continuous operations, the site includes waste storage and handling areas where dust from waste can become airborne, particularly during loading, movement, and processing.

The challenge: dust control in a high-risk waste handling environment

In the case study video, the SUEZ maintenance technician describes a familiar operational reality:

• Fire risk: fine dust can build up and be ignited by heat from electrical equipment.
• Worker wellbeing: airborne dust is unpleasant to work around and can impact breathing comfort.
• Housekeeping and safety: dust contributes to poor visibility, more cleaning, and increased slip, trip, and fall risk.
• Operational disruption: unplanned incidents and downtime can be costly and stressful for the team.

For sites like Severnside, an effective dust suppression system needs to do two things at once:

• Maintain baseline dust suppression day-to-day at the source of emissions.
• Respond fast to dust spikes when waste handling conditions change.

The solution: a two-stage dust suppression system

1) AtomisterAiro installed misting system for daily, at-source dust suppression

To manage general dust levels, Severnside uses our AtomisterAiro, an installed dust and odour suppression misting system designed for targeted treatment with minimal wetting.

Key elements of the AtomisterAiro approach at Severnside include:

• At-source control: nozzles positioned at the source of dust, mainly in waste holding bays.
• Ultra-fine, air-atomised mist: droplets sized to capture inhalable and respirable dust, helping reduce airborne particulates in active areas.
• Efficient operation: adjustable mist output, with water usage that can be as low as 1 litre per hour per nozzle depending on the setup and conditions.
• Control options: configurable programming including timer control, plus optional extras such as motion sensor, wind vane, thermostat and remote control.

In the video, the technician explains that the AtomisterAiro runs daily “to keep the general levels down”, acting as the steady baseline dust suppression system.

2) MistCannon dust suppression unit for dust spikes and wider coverage

Waste handling is rarely consistent. Different loads, varying moisture content, and operational changes can trigger sudden dust spikes. To address this, Severnside also uses an installed MistCannon that can “kick in” when extra dust control is needed.

Our MistCannon range is designed to deliver wide coverage from a single source, supporting rapid-response dust suppression when conditions change.

Typical MistCannon capabilities that support dust control on demanding sites include:

• Oscillating coverage: oscillation can be set across a wide range (10° to 360°), helping sweep treatment across an area.
• Reach and area coverage: throw range in still conditions can be 35m to 100m depending on model, with maximum coverage up to 31,400m².
• Remote operation option: optional remote control with up to 100m range.

This setup gives the site a practical two-layer approach: targeted suppression at source, plus broader area coverage during higher-risk moments.

The impact: safer working conditions, improved housekeeping, and reduced risk

With the AtomisterAiro and MistCannon working together as a coordinated dust suppression system, Severnside reports clear operational benefits:

• A better environment for workers through improved dust suppression and air quality in key areas
• Reduced risk of fires and explosions by limiting dust build-up around sensitive equipment
• Improved housekeeping and tidier work areas that support day-to-day safety
• Reliable performance with minimal downtime, supported by our maintenance and servicing

As the technician puts it: “Compared to the other sites that don’t have the equipment on, it’s a lot better. The odour and the dust is kept down a lot more.”

Ongoing support: keeping the dust suppression system performing

Dust suppression only delivers long-term value when the equipment stays clean, maintained, and ready. In the video, Severnside highlights the importance of reliability: “Corgin comes in and maintains it and there’s never any issues. It’s a very little downtime on it.”

Our maintenance and servicing approach aligns with how AtomisterAiro systems are supported through CarePlan options, helping ensure consistent performance and fewer disruptions.

Talk to our team about site dust suppression

If our team is reviewing dust from waste challenges, or if a current dust suppression unit is struggling to keep up during peak handling, we can help assess the site and recommend the right dust suppression system for targeted control, fast response, or both.