Recycling processor, Granox – part of the PDM Group – has announced that plans to build an industrial scale, 4 megawatt anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at its existing site in Widnes, Cheshire, have been approved.
Planning permission to develop the Desoto Road site – which already houses rendering and biomass to energy plants - was granted by Halton Borough Council on Monday (8 October) and forms the latest phase in PDM’s ongoing UK expansion of its ReFood brand. The company says it intends to invest £40 million into building this and a further site elsewhere in the country.
Construction on the £20 million plant will begin next month, with the project expected to be completed in late 2013. Three combined heat and power (CHP) engines at the site will convert the biogas produced during AD into renewable electricity.
PDM says the plant will be capable of processing 90,000 tonnes of commercial and domestic food waste and providing energy to around 8,000 homes. It intends to use any heat generated for its existing on-site rendering operations and will also share it with adjacent businesses, where possible. The organic fertiliser produced as a by-product of AD will then be used by local farmers.
Commenting on the announcement, PDM’s Commercial Director Philip Simpson, said: “We’re delighted to have received permission to build the new facility on our Widnes site. While the site already operates rendering and biomass to energy plants, the AD plant will offer another sustainable solution to our portfolio in the North West.
“This development is the latest in our long standing commitment to developing the Widnes site to create a unique range of recycling and renewable energy services at a single location. This area is an important hub in terms of food manufacture and retail distribution, so it’s the ideal place to offer such treatments for the 10 million plus tonnes of food waste the UK generates.”
According to the goup, the new plant will create 40 new jobs and will be 50 per cent larger than the company’s existing site in Doncaster, which opened in September 2011.
Speaking on the company’s plans for the future, Simpson added: “Our vision for ReFood is to develop a network of plants, providing food waste collection and recycling services to a 50-mile radius of the plant. It is the only service of its kind in the UK, offering customers reliable and cost effective collections, sanitised bins and safe, secure and sustainable processing.”
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.