Biffa has announced its investment of £500,000 into a new hazardous soil treatment facility at its Merthyr Tydfil landfill site, which the firm said will help reduce the amount of contaminated soil disposed of in landfill.
According to the waste firm, the plant will be Biffa’s fifth following the technology’s successful installation at Biffa’s Skelton Grange, Redhill, Meece and Westmill sites.
Soil treatment pads at Biffa’s Redhill plant
Investment
All have been delivered in partnership with soil remediation specialists Biogenie and represent an investment of more than £3 million from Biffa into soil treatment innovation.
The Merthyr Tydfil plant is due to accept contaminated loads and begin operation from mid-August 2018.
Biffa explained that the treatment plants cleanse hazardous soil destined for landfill by removing contaminants using bioremediation, “speeding up” the natural degradation process to around 12 weeks. The soil can then be used to cover or restore landfill sites.
“This process is also a cost-efficient alternative to importing the external materials otherwise used to cover landfills and help return sites to local communities,” the company said.
Capacity
Julian Holloway, commercial director at Biffa, said: “The waste industry is under considerable pressure to reduce its reliance on landfill, yet hazardous soil currently accounts for a significant percentage of UK site capacity. Innovative methods like this free up capacity for waste that must be disposed of in the ground, as well as helping restore sites so they can become useable again in the future.
“We’re proud to be at the forefront of innovation in waste recycling and the Merthyr Tydfil site is the latest in our longstanding partnership with Biogenie. Identifying further sites for upgrade will be a key focus for our business as we continuously look for ways we can help reduce UK landfill.”
Simon Walker, head of sales at Biogenie, said: “Our strategic partnership with Biffa began in 2005 with the establishment of the UK’s first soil treatment facility and we’re proud to continue this innovative partnership with the opening of our fifth UK site.
“The opening of our Merthyr Tydfil site will give us unrivalled geographic coverage in England & Wales to provide clients with a circular economy for sustainable, fully compliant and crucially, landfill tax-free off-site treatment of a range of hazardous wastes.”
Biogenie
Biogenie-Englobe reports to specialise in the off-site treatment of contaminated soils and sludges at its network of treatment facilities, providing services to a wide range of customers in construction, municipal and industrial sectors.
The Reading-based firm operates a number of Soil Treatment Facilities (STFs) in the UK which are operated as joint ventures with Biffa.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
