Feature Waste management & recycling Reducing costs of waste management


In today’s competitive environment, manufacturers need to take advantage of every opportunity to reduce cost and environmental impact. One area which offers increasing opportunities for commercial and environmental improvement is waste management. Neil Brown, technical director, The Hygiene Group, discusses how to maximise potential in this area


ompanies which were previ- ously spending hundreds of thousands of pounds each year on waste disposal are now able to access cost-effective support from specialist suppliers providing training, products and services which deliver a real financial return by treating waste as a resource – rather than a nuisance. The focus of modern waste manage- ment is on reducing landfill and vehi- cle movements, while increasing the amount of items being recycled – with the cost of the recycled items in many cases to be rebated to the customer. Modern pumping systems, for example, have been designed which can chop up anything up to the size of a chicken carcass and then pass it through a tube into a sealed container for processing into animal feeds. Meanwhile, aerobic and anaerobic digestion systems can be used to create saleable by-products in the form of compost, gas, or animal feed additives. Animal bones, carcasses and hides can be rendered down into tallow which can be burned to heat other by-prod- ucts to create either animal feeds or peat-free compost – effectively a self- sustaining system using waste. And even many soiled plastics can now be industrially washed and recycled rather than being sent to landfill. However, the financial and environ- mental benefits of these systems are only achievable if the streaming of waste – on-site sorting and processing –


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is effectively managed and carried out. While innovation in recovery and processing techniques means that soiled cardboard can now be effec- tively recycled, its value is still several times less than that of dry, clean card- board – meaning that even one soiled box among its clean counterparts can dramatically reduce the price a sup- plier is willing to pay for it.


Meanwhile, waste types such as


paper, animal by-products, vegetable raw materials and general product waste only retain their value if not contaminated by other types. Furthermore, on-site waste process- ing equipment, such as compressors, compactors and balers, if not properly used or correctly maintained, can itself be a source of contamination to the waste, again impacting on its value. Water ingress is far from uncommon, while various types of dirt can also be introduced.


Meanwhile, these machines are also prone in some instances to leaking food waste on to the floor. Even if kept out- side, as they often are, this leakage can propagate mould growth. Far more wor- rying, though, is the increased attrac- tiveness of the site to rodents and insects and the possibility of local infec- tion which can be tracked back into the facility and so into products being man- ufactured. In these instances, the poten- tial costs financial and reputational – do not bear thinking about.


The issue is complicated by the fact


Neil Brown, technical director of The Hygiene Group


that few, if any, production facilities produce enough waste to employ an individual or team full-time on the streaming task. It is therefore generally undertaken on an occasional or part- time basis by in-house production staff who may have limited interest or knowledge of the rigorous require- ments in the area of waste separation. And the process is rarely well super- vised as manufacturers are unwilling to commit supervisory resources to it. An alternative for companies is to work with a specialist contract cleaning supplier which, as well as providing a fully trained and dedicated cleaning resource, can supply staff well versed in waste management processes who can also keep an eye on the condition and maintenance requirements of on- site machinery to ensure opportunities for contamination and leakage are min- imised. Invariably there will be either a contract manager of supervisor sta- tioned on site.


Hygiene Group T: 0800 731 4893 www.hygiene.co.uk Enter 315


Many specialist cleaning suppliers have established partnerships with waste management companies to offer a complete solution in this area and maximise the return from recycling. The supplier will guarantee to save the customer a certain amount by streaming, collating, removing and selling waste on – revenue only achievable by a supplier working on behalf of a number of companies locally creating between them a signifi- cant amount of waste. This approach plays a role in reducing road miles and the number of trips to landfill sites. Companies which embrace a strate- gic approach to waste management can reap real commercial rewards through enhanced environmental performance, reduced costs relating to landfill and transport, and optimising the level of rebates achieved from recycling.


Recycling and waste management event showcases innovative solutions F


rom conveyor systems to compactors, briquetting presses to biomass burners, and odour control to


optical sorting solutions, visitors can expect a host of innovative solutions at the Resource & Waste Management (RWM) show in partnership with CIWM 2012. Taking place at The NEC in Birmingham from 11th – 13th September, the event will bring together 700 exhibitors, over 100 free conference sessions, and a host of features to make it the place to do business and source the latest plant, equipment and services. With names including Cape Machinery, Kaizen


Recycling, Lyndex Recycling Systems, Machinex, M&K Group and Mogensen, the show will play host to a wide array of sorting, separation and processing equipment, including conveyors, shredders, grinders, vibrating and


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With plenty of working exhibits, a new speed networking programme to help visi- tors meet new contacts and suppliers, an Innovation Trail highlighting the latest devel- opments in the sector, and guided technical tours covering different technology areas, the event is designed to make it easy and convenient to do business and source the


trommel screens, and drying solutions. There will be turnkey materials recovery solutions and the latest in magnetic and eddy current separation machinery. Health and safety is also well covered with an array of dust, odour and noise control technology, as well as spark detection and extinguishing systems, PPE, and clean-up solutions for oil and chemical spills.


right products and services.


The show will be co-located with the Energy Event and also with a new Renewables Event targeted at the commercial, industrial and public sector markets. RWM T: 020 7728 4510 www.rwmexhibition.com


Enter 316 JULY/AUGUST 2012 Factory Equipment


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