SOUTH WESSEX WASTE MINIMISATION GROUP: 4th December 2013, The Crown Hotel, Blandford
MINUTES OF MEETING
- Present
(see attached)
- Eliminating Waste at Source: Bio thermic digestion (Paul Richards – Biozolve)
Julian Lack (Logical Energy) and Paul Richards (Biozolve) introduced the concept of bio thermic digestion. Julian explained that Logical Energy are the sales/marketing vehicle for Biozolve who market and sell renewable energy solutions.
Paul then explained the technology that can reduce the organic content of waste by 95% in 72 hours. Water can be recycled, heat can be recycled and electricity can be generated.
Paul explained that the Advetec bio thermic digester can take mixed wastes that requires no pre-sorting. The organic fraction can be reduced by 85% in 72 hours and the non-organic matter is returned sterile and ready for recycling. There are heat pads on the machine to start up the bacteria and once up to temperature heat will be produced by the process. Thermophilic bacteria that work at around 120-180 degrees are utilised in the process which is essentially aerobic digestion. Biostimulants are also used to encourage the bugs to work.
Inert solids can be pelletised into biomass pellets for CHP.
Being able to handle a variety of waste streams, the applications are wide ranging and can solve many issues currently being faced by industry including
Sewage sludge cake disposal
Mixed “black bag” household waste
Food contaminated plastic and glass
Animal waste – farms, abattoirs etc.
Food production plant waste streams (cooked and uncooked)
Restaurant and hotel waste self contained treatment
The solution solves waste stream issues at source – eliminating transport and disposal costs.
Units can be adapted to suit and can range from £50,000 - £400,000. This will be dependent on the waste stream and the machine type.
For further details contact Logical Energy on 0845 505 2012 or email or BioZolve (Paul Richards) on 07595 587320.
- Reduction in Liquid Waste Disposal Charges – the future (Tony Clutton: Huber Technology)
Tony began by providing some useful facts about water:
Water covers 97% of the earth’s surface but only 0.6% fresh water is available to use
We use 150 l/day of water each
Water freezes from the top down leaving fish unharmed.
It takes 1 tonne of water to grow a kg of wheat
It takes 20tonnes of water to produce 1 kg of coffee
By 2025 50% of the world’s population will suffer from water shortage
You contain 55-70% water
A child dies every 15 seconds due to water borne diseases
We flush toilets with drinking water
We wash cars and equipment with drinking water
He then highlighted some of the issues that arise due to the lack of water or polluted waters.
Huber specialise in liquid waste disposal.
Converting:
RAIN WATER TO SHOWER WATER
SHOWER WATER TO LOO FLUSHING WATER
SEWAGE TO IRRIGATION WATER
SLUDGE TO CAKE
REDUCING MOGDEN CHARGES
CONVERTING SLUDGE TO PELLETS
CREATING FUEL FOR BIOMASS BURNERS
REDUCING TRANSPORT CHARGES FOR SLUDGES
PREPARING FOOD WASTE FOR ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PLANTS
RECLAIMING GRIT
REDUCING LANDFILL VOLUMES
Tony then gave some details in regard to the Huber wastewater separation techniques used.
Huber are Filtration Engineers specialising in Liquid/Solid separation making:
Screens and screening compactors to remove solids
Grit traps and grit washers to remove sand and grit
Fine screens for polishing effluents
Sludge Thickeners
Dryers for slurries
Effluent Treatment plant
Membrane filters
Bio reactors
Clarification equipment
Sludge presses
Sludge driers
Special dirty water heat exchangers
The full presentation can be found at For further details contact Tony
- Acquiring Skills – the Lego Way (Judith Ward – SWRAC)
Judith provided an overview of the work based qualifications that can be obtained and the different levels – awards, certificates and diplomas. Each have different credit values and range from levels 1-7. Level 7 is akin to a phd. There are mandatory and optional units within each of the qualifications.
Unit qualifications were then discussed which are individually certified . This allows to build bespoke training with flexible delivery.
Apprenticeships were then discussed which can be fully funded for learners up to 18.
The apprenticeships are divided into various parts:
-The technical certificate (underpinning knowledge)
-The vocational certificate (competency – QCF)
-Functional skills (English/maths – if the learner has obtained GCSE grade A-C in the last 5 years they do not need to do this)
-Personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS – ‘soft’ skills)
-Employee rights and responsibilities (workbook – taught)
SMEs can obtain a government grant of £1,500 per apprentice (up to 10).
SWRAC delivers courses that can be tailored to suit clients’ needs and linked to unit qualifications if required. Delivery can be on site (nationwide) or at Merley House, Wimborne. The contents of courses can be modified to suit specific requirements.
Courses that SWRAC offer include:
Health & Safety:
-IOSH Working Safely ( 1day): underpinning knowledge
-IOSH Managing Safely (4 days): site managers
-IOSH Managing Safely Refresher Course (1 day): 4 days course expires after 3 years.
-IOSH Safety for supervisors (2 days)
-Manual handling (half day)
-Reversing assistant (half day)
-Asbestos awareness (half day)
-Dorset Action on Health and Safety (DASH)
Waste/Recycling:
-Continuing Competence for Waste Manager (half day revision)
-Continuing Competence for Waste Managers (1 day or 2 days)
-Waste Smart (1 day)
-Environmental Legislation and Waste Management (1 day)
Driving:
-Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC): drivers who drive over 3.5 tonne vehicles must obtain this by September 2014.
For further information go to:
- The Green Journey – Hall & Woodhouse (Nick Doughty – Site Manager)
Nick gave a history of the Hall & Woodhouse brewery which began brewing in 1777. In 1898 a second brewery was built. In 1993 a 3,300 cubic metre AD facility was built which obtained an EU award for the novel use of bio gas – submerged combustion (a spiral heat exchanger to warm the digester – 1 million kw/year). This AD plant replaced one that was built in the 1980’s and corroded.
In 1997 the recycling centre was built on site where wastes from the operations are sorted – cardboard, glass, plastic, metal etc. This also provides the brewery with an income source.
In 2011 the company took 27% of the weight out of the beer bottle.
The British Beer and Pub Association set reduction targets of 67% reduction in carbon emissions (compared to 1990) and 42% water efficiency improvement.
From 2007 to 2012 the brewery has reduced its gas and electricity consumption and effluent discharge.
Efficiencies for gas have included managing the effluent plant, installing a reverse osmosis plant for the boiler and utilising an EnviroKing burner in the boiler (working with Hamworthy Combustion to find the best option). In 2011 a new boiler house was built.
For the electricity reduction there has been an optimisation of the processes, education of the staff and work on the compressed air leaks undertaken.
The effluent discharge: the effluent plant uses final effluent to dilute the polymer rather than fresh, leaks were identified in the underground tanks and the brew house brought about improvements.
In 2012 vapour heat recovery was also introduced.
The new H&W pub in Portishead is made from shipping containers. LED lighting is in place, PV panels etc. and marks the way forward for the company. A new pub is currently under construction in Melksham incorporating new green technologies.
The full presentation can be found at
- AOB
The usual Christmas quiz then took place! Prizes were gratefully donated by Hall & Woodhouse, Lush and the House of Dorchester.
The meeting was kindly sponsored by Huber Technology.
- Date and Venue of next meeting: Wednesday 12th March 2014, The Crown Hotel, Blandford