THE MAGAZINE FOR THE DRAINAGE, WATER & WASTEWATER INDUSTRIES
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Cross-sector collaboration helping in fight against FOG
Innovative partnerships are delivering multiple benefits on the sustainable management of fat, oil and grease (FOG) from commercial kitchens, says Chris Clemes, chief executive of Eco Clarity. In the latest initiative, Yorkshire Water is trialling recovery of FOG, for conversion into biofuel, at its site in Hull, while Serious Waste is tankering in grease trap waste.
Sewer blockages are a major concern in the UK, with an estimated 200,000 occurring annually, and FOG – fat, oil and grease - cited as the cause in around 75% of cases.
A build-up of FOG hinders the smooth operation of sewer systems and wastewater treatment works (WwTW), shortens the lifespan of critical assets and increases maintenance costs. This burden ultimately falls on water companies.
“As a water company, we suffer from thousands of preventable blockages each year from fats going down sewers. FOG blockages, or fatbergs impair the performance of wastewater assets which can cause sewer overflows, that can impact the environment,” explains Yorkshire Water’s waste services manager James Gudgeon.
"Water companies can spend a significant amount of money on staff and equipment costs to remove FOG from our sewers and send it to landfill – which also has an environmental impact. Additionally, network failures caused by FOG blockages carry the risk of costly environmental performance fines.”
Yorkshire Water is the first UK water utility to install engineering technology company Eco Clarity’s patented technology, which is
located at Hull wastewater treatment works. The modular, containerised Eco Clarity system was introduced in February 2024 and will be used to treat FOG wastewater generated onsite during cleaning and maintenance procedures, as well as loads generated in the kitchens of pubs and restaurants and tankered by waste management companies.
The process separates problematic FOG from wastewater and recovers a valuable energy resource for biodiesel production, while returning safe water to the environment. The operational model involves installing a network of FOG Recovery Hubs at wastewater treatment works and other sites suitable for liquid waste tankers to offload grease trap waste.
“We're turning FOG waste into a valuable resource," says Chris Febrey, Eco Clarity’s operations manager. “By accurately measuring and verifying the composition of waste, we can verify reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for businesses and promote a circular economy.
“Our collaboration with Yorkshire Water highlights the importance of proper FOG management.”
The installation has a myriad of benefits for Yorkshire Water. Alongside the environmental and financial rewards of safely removing the FOG from the environment.
“Working in partnership is a significant commitment, but it was an Chris Clemes
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October 2024 |
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