UK’S FIRST RECYCLING SOLUTION TO BE LAUNCHED

Published Date: 2007-01-01
By: Health Estate Journal

The development of a pioneering nappy recycling facility - a first for the UK, which will initially serve hospitals – is being planned for early next year. Plans for the processing facility in Tyseley in Birmingham have been submitted by Knowaste, the world’s leading developer of recycling technologies for nappies and personal care products.  

The company has already signed its first contract with Birmingham-based waste contractor Alpha Wastecare (Midlands) Ltd, who will initially collect from commercial premises such as hospitals and nurseries, which generate nappies. The contract with Alpha will enable Knowaste to process some 30,000 tonnes of nappy waste per annum for ten years when the facility is fully operational. Knowaste is investing some £20m plus in recycling facilities across the UK over the next five years, which in addition to handling some 100,00 tonnes of nappies will also process other absorbent hygiene products, including bedliners and incontinence products.  

Up to now nappies and other absorbent products have been one of the few remaining household items that go straight to landfills, incinerator or composting facilities. Based on the fact that a child in nappies up to the age of two and half years will use 6,000 nappies, combined with a UK population set to rise by seven million by 2031, there has been an urgent need for a recycling solution.  Knowaste’s patented nappy-recycling technology and process sanitises every nappy and separates its components. Green energy is generated from the bio mass treatment of the sludge -  the product that is left following the separation of the waste materials during the recycling process. This creates methane and can be converted into energy to run the recycling process or sold back to the Grid.

The recyclates from the Knowaste process can be used to make plastic extrusion and cladding products, as well as roof tiles. Roy Brown, Chief Executive of Knowaste said: “In the UK the need to recycle more and divert waste from landfill is high on the political agenda. In response to this challenge our recycling process enables 98% of the disposable nappy to be removed from the waste stream and thereby offers a sustainable, low cost, environmentally friendly waste management solution for this previously landfilled product.  “When all our plants are fully up and running 13% of all the UK’s nappy waste will be diverted away from landfill and recycled.” The new facility will be based on Knowaste’s successful models in other countries which have recycled over 200,000 tonnes of nappies.   

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Notes to editors

For further information please contact Kathryn Williams, Chris Lawrance or Sarah Rice on 0117 9073400