Waste industry expert and former Taylor figurehead, Peter Selkirk, has been appointed Executive Chairman of PyroPure, a Hampshire-based company that has developed a new, micro-scale process for destroying waste at source, thus negating the need for collection, transport and disposal.
In his new position, Selkirk will oversee the development and implementation of a strategy ‘that aims to see PyroPure adopted as a standard solution in high-value, high-risk waste environments’ over the next three years. He will also be responsible for securing commercial partnerships and future long-term investment in the business.
On taking the company to its next phase Selkirk commented: “After extensive research, analysis and refinement, the team at PyroPure has developed a product with the potential to revolutionise waste collection in sectors where the cost of collection is high and where manual collection bears a degree of risk.
“Having laid the foundations and developed a small-scale and accessible solution to an ever growing problem, we now have in place the product, the team and the drive to make PyroPure the ‘next big thing’ in the world of waste disposal.”
PyroPure background
The company is known for its compact pyrolysis solutions, which utilise thermochemical decomposition processes (using high temperatures and an absence of oxygen), to breakdown all non-recyclable waste into ash and clean gas which can be flushed into a sewer system.
It is thought the system could be useful to organisations and sectors working with high-value, hazardous waste including hospitals, the pharmaceutical waste sector and the pest-control market.
Selkirk’s appointment marks the end of a six-year development and testing phase in which PyroPure received investment from the Sustainable Technology Fund, managed by Disruptive Capital Finance, and private investors including Rockhopper Investments Ltd, which is controlled by venture capitalist Edmund Truell.
Cédriane de Boucaud, Partner at Disruptive Capital Finance, commented: “PyroPure is now in its key phase of development and the next six to twelve months are possibly the most important in the company’s history.
“Peter has a solid track record of helping SMEs reach their growth potential and this, combined with his experience of the waste sector, leaves us in no doubt that the future of PyroPure is in good hands.”
Find out more about PyroPure.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
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.