MBT firm reveals independent study into diversion rate

Dorset-based New Earth Solutions, owned by waste firm WH White plc, has said the study shows its mechanical biological treatment (MBT) process can divert up to 95% of biodegradable waste from landfill.

New Earth's MBT plant near Poole

The findings came after an eight-week study by Worcestershire consultancy the Organic Resource Agency of New Earth's 5 million facility in Poole.

New Earth said the study showed that its MBT system provides a high level of landfill diversion of biodegradable waste at low cost, and also minimised carbon emissions.

The system sees mixed “black bag” waste screened, shredded and dried in a variety of processes to stabilise the material and reduce its biodegradable element.

The MBT technology was tested to Environment Agency standards for landfill diversion, and found that after eight weeks, at least 89% of the biodegradable element had reduced.

Peter Mills, contracts director at New Earth told letsrecycle.com: “This is brand new data and nothing the Agency has viewed before. It shows that our MBT technology can divert at least 80% of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill regardless of the process.”

Approval
New Earth will present the findings for scrutiny by the Environment Agency and hope their diversion rate is approved within the next two months. Approval would enable New Earth to show the rate to prospective clients, and to compete with other technologies including energy-from-waste.

Mr Mills said: “For our clients the biodegradable element is key. Incinerators achieve a 100% diversion rate but they are expensive and take a long time to get up and running. Our facility achieves an 80% diversion rate, is a lot cheaper and we got planning permission easily.

He explained: “We can develop plants in six to eight months. We can provide real landfill diversion immediately, to help with 2010 and 2013 diversion years.”

Market
The end product of New Earth's MBT process is a low-grade compost, which Mr Mills said can be used for highway maintenance and the restoration of landfills and brownfield sites.

Mr Mills argues that by using residues as a compost or soil improver, MBT can avoid more climate change-causing carbon emissions than incineration (see letsrecycle.com story).