Capable of processing 10,500 tonnes of garden waste and food waste each year, the plant is being developed at Bidston, on the Wirral, by New Zealand-owned company VCU Europa.
 An artist's impression of the new in-vessel composting plant at Bidston |
The facility will be located on part of the site of a former incinerator, which is being re-developed into an integrated waste management park.
The Bidston plant is to be one of two VCU in-vessel facilities for the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority – plans for a sister plant in Liverpool were submitted to the city council last month (see letsrecycle.com story).
The Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority believes new kitchen waste collection services made possible by the in-vessel plants will go “a long way” to help improve the region’s recycling rate, which presently stands at 13.5%.
MWDA chairman Cllr John Fletcher said: “We are working in partnership with Wirral council and other districts to develop kerbside green and kitchen waste collections as well as helping them to promote a strong recycling message. The new facility will be a major step in the implementation of the Joint Municipal Waste Strategy for Merseyside.”
Technology
VCU Europa's vertical composting unit technology sees mixed garden and food waste treated in a continuous flow, with material entering each enclosed chamber at the top, before steadily moving downwards to be removed at the bottom as compost.
| Related links: |
The technology sees material treated in two stages and exposed to temperatures above 70 degrees centrigrade to meet with legal standards for treating animal by-products.
Carl Beck, sales and marketing manager for VCU Europa, said: “Having assisted with all the phases of the project from the initial concept and detailed design though to final planning, we are pleased to now take this project from paperwork to plant. This is the advantage of VCU Europa – we are in the position to support and deliver at every stage of the process.”
Letsrecycle.com is holding a special conference on animal by-products and food waste on September 28. For more details see the letsrecycle.com events page
Subscribe for free