New In-vessel Composting System opens
A brand new composting plant was opened on 19th October at Donarbon's Waterbeach Waste Management Park, just north of Cambridge.
The new £4.5 million in-vessel composting plant was designed and turn-key installed by technology providers Wasteology Systems Ltd with civil engineering and infrastructure by J Breheny Contractors Ltd. This plant will take all the kerbside collected mixed kitchen and garden household waste from Cambridgeshire and turn it into compost that meets the PAS 100 standard to be used mostly by local farmers, but also Cambridgeshire residents and allotment holders.
The composting plant was formally opened by Jan Taylor, Waste Infrastructure Manager for Cambridgeshire County Council, cutting a ribbon across the entrance to the main tipping hall.
The composting plant will initially treat over 75,000 tonnes of organic waste each year. The waste will be shredded and then composted inside enclosed concrete clamps at temperatures over 60ºC for 2 weeks followed by 6 weeks maturation, to produce around 40,000 tonnes of final compost (the weight loss is due to water evaporation and carbon dioxide given off during the composting process).
The facility includes a visitor viewing area so that children and others can safely see composting operations, and fits in with joint working between Cambridgeshire County Council and Donarbon to further raise awareness about waste reduction and recycling amongst local residents.
For further information regarding this project please click on the photagraph title opposite.