Devon&#39s second in-vessel composting plant opens

The facility was officially launched last Wednesday by county council chairman Cllr Des Shadrick to take kitchen, garden and cardboard waste from about 30,000 homes in Mid Devon.

Opening: (left to right) Cllr Charles Hayden of Mid Devon district council, Ken Pitcher of Viridor, Cllr Margaret Rogers of Devon county council and Cllr Des Shadwick of Devon county council at the opening of the in-vessel facility at the Broadpath Landfill and Recycling Centre

Coming 16 months after the opening of Viridor's Heathfield in-vessel plant (see letsrecycle.com), the latest facility has the capacity to process over 8,000 tonnes of organic waste each year.

It is the first of its kind in the UK, built by Irish firm Celtic Composting Systems to turn household biodegradable waste into soil conditioner for agricultural uses.

Opening the facility, Cllr Shadrick said: “Devon has an excellent reputation in the field of waste management and this project is further proof of our commitment to strive forward and maximise recycling and composting in the county.”

Partnership
Viridor, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is working with a partnership of Devon County Council, Mid Devon, Teignbridge and South Hams District Councils as well as local waste firm Devon Waste Management on the project.

The two in-vessel composting plants were part of a successful bid by this Composting Partnership for 5.6 million from Defra's Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund. The bid was made to support the setting up of kerbside organic waste collections from over 120,000 homes in the county.

Ken Pitcher, Viridor's regional director, said: “Viridor is pleased to be able to work closely in partnership with the County and the district councils in providing vital infrastructure to help achieve high levels of recycling.”

Along with the Heathfield in-vessel, near Teignbridge, the new plant gives Devon a total capacity to process 33,000 tonnes of household organic waste undercover, where food waste can be treated in compliance with the animal by-product regulations.

Devon county council executive member for environment, Cllr Margaret Rogers, said: “Last year Devon residents recycled and composted 40% of their waste which is a fantastic achievement.

“However, legislation is making it increasingly difficult to dispose of compostable waste in landfill sites, acknowledging that this type of waste, when buried, can contribute to climate change through methane emissions. If we fail to meet recycling targets it will not only lead to a waste of valuable resources but could also result in significant penalties being levied on the county council in the form of heavy fines,” Cllr Rogers explained.