French waste management giant SUEZ has secured long-term authorisation to expand its hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment operations in western France.

 

Thus, strengthening critical industrial waste infrastructure while paving the way for a near-doubling of renewable electricity generation at its SEDA eco-park.

 

The approval covers the SEDA facility at Chenillé-Champteussé in Maine-et-Loire, which handles up to 200,000 tonnes of waste annually from local authorities and industrial customers across western France.

 

The new prefectural order, signed on March 25, 2026, authorises non-hazardous waste disposal operations for 16 years and hazardous waste disposal for 27 years, securing the site's long-term role in managing industrial and municipal waste.

 

The first phase of the expansion was completed on September 1, 2026, with the commissioning of a new cell for non-hazardous waste disposal.

 

Operated by SUEZ since 1978, the SEDA eco-park manages two major waste streams: 90,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste and 110,000 tonnes of hazardous waste annually.

 

Non-hazardous waste comes from recycling centres, wastewater treatment plants and local economic activities. Hazardous waste includes industrial sludge, contaminated soil, asbestos, lead, heat-resistant materials and rock wool, as well as air-pollution residues and ash from energy-from-waste facilities, biomass boilers and solid recovered fuel plants.

 

The site combines four operations: non-hazardous waste disposal, hazardous waste treatment and storage, contaminated soil treatment and recovery, and a photovoltaic power plant installed on restored landfill areas.

 

The expansion comes as tougher environmental regulations and growing public health concerns increase pressure on France to maintain secure, long-term capacity for hazardous waste treatment and disposal.

 

Beyond waste treatment, SEDA is emerging as a contributor to the region's energy transition.

 

Its photovoltaic plant and energy recovery unit, which converts biogas from non-hazardous waste disposal into electricity, currently generate nearly 12 GWh of renewable electricity annually—enough to meet the needs of approximately 8,000 residents.

 

Planned expansion of the existing facilities is expected to almost double renewable electricity generation in the coming years, adding an energy dimension to the site's waste management operations.

 

The authorisation marks another step in SUEZ's wider expansion of its hazardous waste business in France, where the company has an annual treatment capacity of 1.6 million tonnes.

 

The latest approval strengthens SUEZ's ability to serve industrial customers and local authorities as demand for reliable waste treatment infrastructure grows.

 

Michel Durrmeyer, CEO of SUEZ’s hazardous waste operations in France, said: “The authorisation to continue operations at the SEDA eco-park marks a major milestone for local authorities and industrial businesses across Western France. It enables us to secure essential waste treatment capacity over the long term, meeting the growing needs of the region as environmental requirements become more stringent, and new public health challenges emerge. 

 

"This authorization also demonstrates SUEZ’s ability to develop and maintain critical infrastructure for hazardous waste treatment, a strategic market to support the industrial and environmental transformation of local economies. At the same time, it allows us to continue contributing to the generation of local renewable energy."