Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Waste Industry Update March 2010

Semple Fraser - Waste Industry Update March 2010: "WRAP boosts AD output


Further promotion has been given for the increasingly popular use of anaerobic digestion (AD) as a treatment method for biowastes as SEPA reveals that digestate produced from this process will no longer be subject to regulatory waste controls, where it meets PAS 110 specification and is applied to land. AD produces both a biogas which can be used to produce renewable heat or power, and digestate, which can be used to return organic matter to soils.

SEPA’s decision comes with the launch of the UK-wide PAS110:2010 specification, produced by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), Afor (Association for Organic Resources) and the British Standard Institute (BSI). The industry-led specification will support the development of markets for products source segregated from biodegradable materials. Producers can check that digestates are of consistent quality and fit for purpose against the specification.

As a result of SEPA’s regulatory position, digestate which meets the specification will no longer need to register for a waste management exemption with SEPA for the application of PAS110 certified digestates to land, saving significant costs to operators of AD plants.

SEPA’s Regulatory Position sets out the PAS standards for digestates that AD plant operators will need to meet. The standards underpin the twofold purpose of the PAS, which is to ensure that digested materials are made using suitable inputs in the AD process (there are a number of criteria here including that the waste input materials are derived from animal or plant origin and have been collected separately from other wastes and not combined with any other waste amongst other conditions) and to ensure that the process has been well managed and monitored so as to produce digested material that meets market needs and protects the environment.

The full SEPA Regulatory Position on PAS110 digestate is available at:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/WEEE_2009_amendments_factsheet_.pdf
http://www.sepa.org.uk/about_us/news/2010/waste_no_more_for_anaerobic_di.aspx

The full WRAP PAS110:2010 may be viewed at:
http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/PAS110_vis_10.308cbce2.8536.pdf

Meanwhile, the potential of AD continues to be explored, as news comes that Wales is to host a number of innovative trials designed by WRAP. Focus will be on the commercial potential of PAS100 compost and digestate within new landscape and brownfield regeneration projects.

Due to start later this month, the trials are geared towards developing end market use in the regeneration of quarries, open cast mines and landfill sites and will demonstrate to local authorities that the diversion of organic waste from landfill holds environmental and economic benefits. It is the first time that WRAP will trial the possibility of AD being used as a biofertiliser. Both green compost and food-derived compost produced to PAS100 specification and WRAP’s Quality Protocol will be tested together with the digestate.

Results from the trials are expected to be reported during 2010 and 2011.

More information on the PAS100 digestate trials in Wales may be read at:
http://www.wrap.org.uk/media_centre/press_releases/wales_to_host.html"

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

What you S.E.E. is not always what you get!

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