Graphite Resources to build the world’s largest steam autoclave recycling plant
Steam autoclaving is an established, well-tried and safe system which uses steam to sterilize municipal and household waste in autoclaves – large, enclosed vessels about the size of a long fuel tanker. The technology has been used for a long time in hospitals and surgeries, to sterilise equipment.
Graphite Resources Ltd has announced a circa £50 million deal to build the world’s largest steam autoclave recycling plant on the banks of the river Tyne in Gateshead, North East England. The company has also appointed Lord Kenneth Baker, former Conservative MP and Secretary of State for the Environment, as non-executive chairman.
The deal involves equity investment from lead investor Lehman Brothers, the management team, and a group lead by Lord Baker. Debt facilities are provided jointly by Allied Irish Bank and Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank.
“Gateshead will lead Britain in waste treatment” said Lord Baker “Steam autoclaving is a sustainable way to treat wastes whilst maximising resource recovery and value. The Thompson brothers are pioneers and the North East should be proud of leading the way to a more eco-friendly future.”
The main contractor Clugston commenced construction on Tuesday 27th May.
The Derwenthaugh EcoParc and its recycling plant will be one of the first of its type in the UK. Due to be operational in fourth quarter 2009, creating 70 jobs. With a recycling rate of over 75 per cent, it will be capable of treating 320,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste, 60,000 tonnes of light waste (kerbside, commercial and industrial) and 20,000 tonnes of green and skip waste per annum.
Michael Thompson, Chief Executive, stated, “The public are becoming increasingly aware of the need to use waste, it is much too valuable a resource to put into landfill or incinerate. We are entering the carbon economy and this project provides the UK with a head start which Councils and Industry need to take advantage of.”
The plant will dramatically reduce the tonnage of waste sent to landfill, without releasing the carbon emissions associated with incineration. It will recycle municipal (black bag) solid waste (MSW) together with a range of commercial and industrial wastes.
Richard Mair, development director said, “If autoclaving is adopted by local authorities nationally, it has the potential to revolutionise the way we think of waste. Instead of being a burden, it will be seen as a resource. The announcement of our project, further endorses autoclaving technology in the UK. Because autoclaving eliminates the need for householder participation in recycling, it also gives local authorities much greater flexibility for their future recycling strategies. It will help them to reach their recycling targets much faster and more cost effectively. It spells the end of landfill.”
Due to the ever rising levels of Landfill Tax and the increasing costs of operating landfill sites, autoclaving will be no more expensive than landfill in the immediate term and is also cheaper than other waste treatment options such as incineration.
Up to 30 tonnes of (black bag) waste, either sorted or unsorted, is loaded into each autoclave and distributed evenly throughout the vessel. The autoclave rotates and steam is introduced at pressure – raising the temperature up to 160 degrees centigrade. The treatment cycle lasts for one hour during which time the waste material is broken down.
All foodstuffs, paper and organic ‘cellulose’ material become fibrous. Plastic is softened and reduced in volume. Tin cans, glass, aerosols, steel and aluminium are de-lacquered and steam cleaned.
When the cycle is complete, the residual waste is less than 20 per cent of the original volume. This material then undergoes separation treatment to extract additional value. The sterilised biomass fibre known as CellMatt® can be used in many ways. Development of uses for the fibre is ongoing and the company is very excited about the results of tests so far.
In the short-term, the plant will offer waste treatment and recycling services to regional and national waste companies and local authorities. However, it also plans to secure long–term waste treatment and recycling contracts such as that recently announced by the South Tyne & Wear Waste Management Partnership.
Related categories: Carbon trading Waste treatment technologies
