ORGANICS RECYCLING
six plants to be built across Wales in Gwynedd, southwest Wales, Mid Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly. Through the dialogue sessions, investigations are currently under way to consider the potential for these facilities to cater for waste from third parties,
including commercial and
industrial organisations and other pub- lic sector bodies.
To move forward, however, a num- ber of challenges will first need to be faced head on – planning permission for the sites; feedstock security and quality; and the markets for digestate produced at the AD facilities. All can undermine a business plan for a site, and result in delays or even project abandonment. If the business plan is not fit for purpose, then funding may be put at risk too.
WRAP and the Environment Agency have established a protocol for diges- tate that is produced from source-
segregated biowastes, which together with its associated standard PAS 110, provides a framework for demonstrat- ing that the digestate produced has ceased to be a controlled waste. The Welsh Government has recent- ly launched a consultation on what counts towards the 70% recycling and composting targets from April 2012. The consultation states that only compost or digestate that meets the requirements of the relevant quality protocol or is produced at a facility in the process of being accredited will count towards the targets.
In a further move, the consultation proposes that in the case of diges- tate it should be dewatered, which will require additional monitoring and reporting to demonstrate that this pro- cess is not preventing the recovery of nutrients to the soil.
Because the dewatering of digestate can facilitate easier transportation, the consultation paper should assist waste
The Welsh Government is consulting on what counts towards the 70% recycling and composting targets
“ ”
management companies in determin- ing the wider practical uses of this material, such as storage, ease of han- dling and transport costs.
There is without doubt a significant
role for AD to play in UK sustainable waste management, energy generation and agriculture. What is clear is that all eyes will be on the Welsh experience to see what lessons can be learned and applied elsewhere.
Dr Adam Read is global practice director, Brian Mayne is technical director and Nia Owen is senior consultant at AEA
E green
solutions
Countrystyle can offer a green solution to most waste problems. If it can be recycled, we’ll recycle it... our target is always zero waste to landfill. Which is why you can be safe in the knowledge that your business waste is being responsibly handled. And through intelligent recycling, we can often significantly reduce your costs too.
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www.countrystylegroup.co.uk March 2012 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 13
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