No refuse derived fuel is currently being stored for export at Avonmouth docks following fly problems resulting from Boomecos RDF operations at the site, the Bristol Port Authority has confirmed.
Waste wood and alternative fuel company Boomeco was forced by the Environment Agency to stop storing RDF at its site on the docks after a persistent fly problem led to complaints from local residents and politicians (see letsrecycle.com story).
And, it has since emerged that recycling company Churngold has also halted its RDF operations at Avonmouth docks, despite the Environment Agency identifying only Boomecos RDF as the source of the flies.
While the Agency said it was not aware of any problems with Churngolds RDF operations at Avonmouth, the Boomeco fly problems have nevertheless led to the Bristol Port Authority (BPA) requiring Churngold to also stop storing RDF at the site.
Churngold is thought to have exported around 30-40,000 tonnes of RDF from Avonmouth docks over the last 18 months to Norway, Sweden and Estonia.
A spokeswoman for the Port Authority did not wish to comment on specific companies, but confirmed that due to the fly problems there was currently no RDF being stored at Avonmouth docks, although it is not clear whether this is a permanent situation or whether there is scope for RDF to be stored at the docks in future.
The BPA spokeswoman told letsrecycle.com that the Authority did not have a specific policy on RDF, stating that: We look at everything on a case-by-case basis.
The spokeswoman said: We are a statutory harbour authority so we cannot pick and choose cargo. What we need to do is work with local authorities to deal with that material.
New Earth
Some of the material exported from the docks by Churngold has previously come from waste management company New Earth Solutions.
In 2012/13, Churngolds Avonmouth operation sent more than 317 tonnes of material abroad which had been processed into RDF by waste management firm New Earth Solutions under a contract with Bath and North East Somerset council, according to council documents.
A spokesman for New Earth confirmed that the company had from time to time sent RDF to Churngold for export from Avonmouth, although he said that this occasional arrangement was only utilised when it suited us had never been our main outlet for RDF.
‘Right now we are not doing it [working with Churngold] because of the Boomeco situation. This has not had a fundamental impact on our business.’
New Earth Solutions spokesman
New Earth produces RDF at its mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant in Avonmouth, but the majority of this material is now processed at its adjacent 120,000 tonnes per year energy-from-waste facility, which began operations in September 2013 (see letsrecycle.com story).
The spokesman for New Earth said: Right now we are not doing it [working with Churngold] because of the Boomeco situation. This has not had a fundamental impact on our business.
Churngold Waste and Recycling, part of the Churngold Group, is based in Avonmouth. The company declined to comment on the situation.
Boomeco
Now that it is unable to store material at Avonmouth docks, Boomeco is expected to outline its contingency plans later this week to service its contract with North Somerset council agreed earlier this year (see letsrecycle.com story) to process 7,000-10,000 tonnes of household waste into RDF.
Since the Environment Agency halted Boomecos RDF operations at Avonmouth, North Somerset household waste intended for RDF has instead been sent to landfill and also to New Earth Solutions nearby MBT and EfW facilities.
However, a statement circulated among North Somerset councillors last month revealed that Boomeco and the council had proposed a solution that would see bales of RDF stored inside a building at the firms enclosed site at Estuary Park around 1.5 miles from Avonmouth dock.
According to North Somerset council, this material would be stored until sufficient quantity is produced after which it will be transported and loaded onto a ship in one continuous operation.
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