The Bio Group, which formed this May as a joint venture between in-vessel specialists Cambridge Recycling Services (CRS), composting machinery providers Global Recycling Solutions as well as green waste and wood processors Material Change; has begun construction for a 30,000 tonne per annum facility in the village of Helmdon in the south of the county. (see letsrecycle.com story)
The “hybrid” system
Steve Sharratt, chief executive of the Bio Group, explained that having both technologies in one facility will allow the company to simultaneously treat source segregated food waste in the IVC and food waste in paper, cardboard or plastic packaging in the AD.
The Bio Group revealed it has “agreements in place to ensure the compost produced by both processes will be used to improve local farmland” and that it is looking at how the site can achieve the quality standard, PAS100 for the compost.
As for the energy produced by the AD process, Bio Group has confirmed that it will be used to power the site and that the surplus will be fed into the national grid.
Bio Group could not reveal the quantity of electricity the site will deliver at this stage.
Mr Sharratt said: “Helmdon is very much our flagship site and will show what Bio Groups facilities will look like going forward. The model is essentially an energy driven process.”
Input
Bio Group is targeting commercial and municipal food waste in the local area and has already had “a number of discussions with commercial companies” for input material and Mr Sharratt confirmed that most of the plant's capacity will be filled by the end of the autumn.
Mr Sharratt also revealed that the company's main focus is to draw in local waste and: “Although there are no local food waste collections in Northampton at the moment, we would definitely be interested in coming to an agreement with the authority when they have set them up.”
Design
Cambridge Recycling Services (CRS) have deigned the IVC and AD for the plant, and both are proposed to be fully compliant with the Animal By Product regulations which sets strict controls on how waste containing animal derived products must be treated.
The site will feature a common reception area for the food wastes as well as technology to 'de-package ready meals'. The development is to be located on an existing CRS site which has an in-vessel composter for green waste.
The chief executive of the Bio Group described the cost of the development as “multi million” and looking ahead he added: “There is an awful lot of waste arising in the locality, so providing the authority and the community is happy for us to expand, we may seek to do so in future.”
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