Environmental services firm Tradebe has completed the expansion of its Rochester clinical waste ‘alternative treatment’ facility, which will see the plant now process 24,000 tonnes a year.
The works have meant the plant is able to process 50% more waste and brings the Kent-based facility up to its permitted annual tonnage as agreed with the Environment Agency.
Inside the Rochester alternative treatment facility
The treatment plant is one of three similar sites run by Tradebe Healthcare in the UK. It involves treating waste using ‘thermal disinfection systems’ which render the waste non-hazardous, so it is ready for subsequent disposal or recovery.
Waste handled at the plant largely consists of dressings, swabs, gloves and gowns sourced from healthcare facilities across the area. Certain other healthcare wastes can only be treated using high-temperature incineration.
Tradebe said the work has been completed to “further ensure the ability of Tradebe’s nationwide network of healthcare sites to meet the increasing clinical waste disposal demands of the NHS”.
Market
Commenting on the expansion, Lynne King, Tradebe Healthcare Director, said the expansion will look to capitalise on market growth.
“This expansion is the result of significant investment in one of our key treatment facilities,” she said.
“The potential market for Tradebe Healthcare treatment services is considerable given the ever-increasing need for clinical waste disposal in the South East, and the UK at large. Increasing our cost effective, efficient and robust treatment services is more important now than ever before.”
“The potential market for Tradebe is considerable given the ever-increasing need for clinical waste disposal”
Tradebe Healthcare also operates a number of other clinical waste treatment facilities across the country, including healthcare waste incinerators in Wrexham, Redditch and Fawley.
The Spanish-owned company was awarded a 10-year deal with NHS Scotland to collect and dispose of healthcare waste, after having taken on parts of a contract held by Healthcare Environmental Services which ceased operations (see letsrecycle.com story).
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
