Odour reduction system to feature in Devon composting plant

The plant to be operated by Viridor has just been granted planning permission, and will now be built beside Broadpath landfill, also operated by Viridor on the waste management company's land.

” The ASP system should also improve production times because it will speed up the maturation of the compost “
– Dan Cooke, Viridor

The technology at the plant will be built by Irish company Celtic Composting. Explaining how the system works, managing director of the UK branch Peter Hewitt, said: “In-vessel composting normally means the compost spends two weeks inside and then a further two months or so outside being turned.

“The smells come when the compost is turned and aerated. The ASP system works by sucking air through the compost and into the pipes which we have built into the ground, before being passed through a bio-filter. This limits odour considerably.”

The ASP, pipes and bio-filters system could also be used in the reception area at the site to minimise odours.

Efficiency

Explaining the reason for using the system Viridor said: “The provision of an integrated odour control system for the reception building, composting tunnels and maturation area was a significant contributory factor in the planning approval being granted for the scheme.”

Dan Cooke, external affairs manager for Viridor added: “We think Celtic Composting's technology is a novel solution to odours and we saw this as a good opportunity to assess this new technology. The ASP system should also improve production times because it will speed up the maturation of the compost.”

ABP

Viridor will apply for Animal By-Product compliance once the plant is opened and will receive green and kitchen waste from homes in the Mid-Devon area. The compost will be used on local agricultural land.

The plant will be owned by Devon county council, under its partnership with the Devon Composting Partnership. This comprises the council, Viridor Waste Management, and Devon Waste Management.

The first plant built under the partnership was a 25,000 tonne Viridor facility in Heathfield, which opened last year. Broadpath is the second and is due to open in November this year. Mid Devon is currently implementing its plans to start green waste and kitchen waste collections to coincide with the opening of the plant.