Wyvern has been working with local firm Organic Power to develop the plant, which should be capable of processing 15,000 tonnes of material each year.
The “Maltin” system has been developed by the Horsington-based waste technology firm and is said to use a “completely natural process using no chemicals” to treat waste in multiple sealed tanks, most of which are below ground. Wyvern said the process could ultimately be used to power homes or fuel lorries or cars.
A detailed planning application is now being developed and will be submitted to Somerset county council soon. The two companies hope the plant will be up and running by Spring 2005.
Commenting on the project, Wyvern's managing director, Andrew Olie, said: “We believe this is technology that is at the forefront of waste treatment. It is good that two forward-thinking local firms can work together in this way to develop an exciting new technique for waste processing.”
Efficient
Christopher Maltin, managing director of Organic Power, said: “Our system has been in development for more than 10 years and we are confident that it is the most efficient environmentally friendly process currently on the market.”
The anaerobic digester will take in mainly commercial waste from the food and catering sectors, particularly the more liquid wastes that cannot be landfilled because of the animal by-products regulation.
The Dimmer site is also to be home for a new 1 million in-vessel composting plant, which Wyvern announced earlier this year (see letsrecycle.com story). The in-vessel plant is to be used specifically for a new kitchen waste and organics collection service that Wyvern is to introduce for households in Somerset.
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