From Nappy to Roof Tile
Published Date: 2009-10-01
By: admin – in Eco Friendly Community
Reusable Bag Blog
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Our friend, Lynnette, at Knowate Ltd, the world’s leading developer of recycling technologies for nappies and personal care products, has launched a new sustainable roofing solutions venture. Here’s a summary of their press release on the new company and it’s vision.T
he new company, SmallPlanet Building Products Ltd, will manufacture innovative global roofing solutions made from recycled plastic. Initially, this recycled plastic will come from a variety of sources but the ultimate aim is to use the plastic recyclates produced at the UK’s first Knowaste nappy recycling plant scheduled to open early in 2010 Birmingham.
This plant will process and sanitize nappies and adult incontinence products, resulting in two outputs: plastic and cellulose organic residue for green energy. The plastic will be recreated into a variety of products, including plastic cladding, decking and roof tiles.
SmallPlanet will market and distribute roofing products to building contractors, roofing supply companies, homebuilders and architects and DIY, hardware and gardening stores. Long-term plans will be for SmallPlanet to represent other manufacturers of recycled building materials such as decking and siding, thereby extending the product range.
Roy Brown, President and Chief Executive of Knowaste Ltd added: “More than 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste is disposed of in the UK each year – a figure that highlights the importance of developing alternative uses for post-consumer nappies. There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products. We see this as a win-win opportunity.
SmallPlanet roofing materials will be manufactured by Mailbox Mouldings in Stalybridge, Cheshire. The environmentally friendly production process utilizes recycled materials that are both pliable and durable to produce the roof tiles that will be available in a standard black colour or with an additional natural stone granulate in Forest Green, Granite Grey, Traditional Red and Broadleaf Brown.The tiles are UV resistant, colourfast and non-corrosive and their ultra-light weight nature allows for easy installation. The unique design also makes the materials easy to play, saw and cut and produce good thermal insulation and sound absorption.
The tiles are suitable for a wide range of buildings and purposes including non-traditional and traditional housing, pre-fabricated and industrial buildings, over-roofing of asbestos, felt or industrial sheeting, conversion of flat to pitched roofs, sheds, conservatories, garages and stables.
Knowaste
Published Date: 2009-09-01
By: Local Government News
The world’s leading developer of recycling technologies for nappies and personal care products, Knowaste Ltd, has launched a new sustainable roofing solutions venture.
The new company, SmallPlanet Building Products Ltd, will manufacture innovative global roofing solutions made from recycled plastic. Initially, this recycled plastic will come from a variety of sources but the ultimate aim is to use the plastic recyclates produced at the UK’s first Knowaste nappy recycling plant scheduled to open early in 2010 in Birmingham.
Tel: 01600 891594 or visit www.knowaste.com
Poop Scoop
Published Date: 2009-09-01
Roofing Cladding & Insulation
A new recycling plant due to be built in Birmingham will supply roof tiles made from recycled nappies.
Due to open next year, the facility is being developed by Knowaste, a specialist in turning the plastic element of sanitary waste into building products.
The recycling process sanitises the waste to produce two outputs: plastic and cellulose organic residue. While the organic residue can be used for green energy, the plastic can be made into a variety of products.
The roof tiles will be manufactured by Mailbox Mouldings and distributed by Knowaste’s subsidiary company, SmallPlanet Building Products.
Roy Brown, president and chief executive of Knowaste said: “more than 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste is disposed of in the UK each year – a figure that high lights the importance of developing alternative uses for post-consumer nappies.“
There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products.”
The roof tiles will be available in black, green, grey, red…and brown.
Recycled Tiles Made from Nappies is not a Bum Deal
Published Date: 2009-09-01
Project Scotland
A company that specializes in recycling technology for nappies and personal care products has launched a new business to manufacture plastic cladding, decking and roof tiles.
Knowaste Ltd says the new business, SmallPlanet Building Products, will initially use recycled plastic from “a variety” of sources but wants to use plastic recyclates produced at a nappy recycling plant scheduled to open early in 2010 in Birmingham.
The plant will process and sanitise nappies and adult incontinence products to produce plastic and cellulose organic residue for green energy. SmallPlanet will market and distribute the roofing products to building contractors, roofing supply companies and house builders.
Long-term plans are for SmallPlanet to represent other manufacturers of recycled building materials.
Bill Knoupe, general manager of the new company, said: “There is a real opportunity to open up a new market in construction offering sustainable products that come with clear benefits for the building and housing sector, which are increasingly being asked to improve sustainability credentials. Once the tiles have been commercialized, they will offer the construction industry a new sustainable opportunity and a “quick win” to meet maximum recycled content requirements while also reinforcing their green credentials.”
Roy Brown, president and chief executive of Knowaste, added: “More than 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste is disposed of in the UK each year, a figure that highlights the importance of developing alternatives uses for post-consumer nappies. There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products.”
Roofing materials will be manufactured by Mailbox Mouldings in Cheshire and tiles will be available in a standard black colour or with an additional natural stone granulate in “Forest Green, Granite Grey, Traditional Red and Broadleaf Brown. The lightweight products are said to be UV resistant, colourfast and non-corrosive.
Disposable nappy Recycling in the UK
Published Date: 2009-09-23
By: Mrs. Green - www.MyZeroWaste.com
Recycling nappies to make roof tiles!
It’s no surprise that a recent survey showed 95% of parents wanted disposable nappy recycling as part of their standard household kerbside collection.
It seems guilt runs high among parents when it comes to ditching disposables in the landfill; with 93% of parents feeling unease when throwing nappies in the bin.
And yes, we could all use washable nappies like the good old days, but we live in an era of convenience and busy schedules which doesn’t always involve soaking buckets and a line full of freshly washed nappies.
More than three billion nappies are thrown away every year in the UK, so it’s a huge problem in terms of waste. Up until now, the only answer has been to landfill or incinerate them.
However, thanks to a company called Knowaste Ltd, the UK’s first nappy recycling plant is opening in Birmingham 2010!
I’ve been having a yarn with Bill Knoupe – Knowaste Director – who tells me that the plant will be able to recycle approximately 36,000 tonnes of nappies and other absorbent hygiene products including bedliners, and incontinence products.
Knowaste Ltd have established a recycling process that sanitises every nappy and enables 98% of the disposable nappy to be removed from the waste stream. And, if you’re wondering what happens to the plastic, it can be recycled into a variety of products including plastic cladding, bicycle helmets and roof tiles. Where there’s muck there’s brass!
The roof tiles are currently available through Knowaste’s latest venture – SmallPlanet Building Products. The plastic is currently sourced in Belgium, but once the Birmingham plant is up and running, Knowaste hope to reduce their carbon footprint by recycling and manufacturing all the tiles in Britain.
Bill was quick to tell me that the recycled roofing tiles are UV resistant, cheap to buy and quick and easy to install.
The great news is that Knowaste are working with Local Authorities to get kerbside collection of disposable nappies up and running. They are currently running trials in Birmingham and hope to expand collections across the UK.
I’m so excited about sharing this story with you as many parents feel such guilt about using disposable nappies. Let’s hope it takes off soon and we can start turning our “waste” (boom boom) into a valuable resource.
SmallPlanet Building Products Ltd, to Manufacture Innovative Global Roofing Solutions Made from Recycled Plastic
Published Date: 2009-09-07
By: MHW Materials Handling World Magazine
The world’s leading developer of recycling technologies for nappies and personal care products, Knowaste Ltd has launched a new sustainable roofing solutions venture.
The new company, SmallPlanet Building products Ltd, will manufacture innovative global roofing solutions made from recycled plastic. Initially, this recycled plastic will come from a variety of sources but the ultimate aim is to use the plastic recyclates produced at the UK’s first Knowaste nappy recycling plant scheduled to open early in 2010 in Birmingham.
This plant will process and sanitise nappies and adult incontinence products, resulting in two outputs: plastic and cellulose organic residue for green energy. The plastic will be recreated into a variety of products, including plastic cladding, decking and roof tiles.
SmallPlanet will market and distributor roofing products to building contractors, roofing supply companies, homebuilders and architects and DIY, hardware and gardening stores. Long term plans will be for SmallPlanet to represent other manufacturers of recycled building materials such as decking and siding, thereby extending the product range.
Bill Knoupe, General Manager of SmallPlanet Building Products Ltd, said: “The construction industry is a significant user of material resources and energy, consuming 420 million tonnes of construction products in the UK every year.“
There is a real opportunity to open up a new market in construction, offering sustainable products that come with clear benefits for the building and housing sector, which are increasingly being asked to improve sustainability credentials. Once the tiles have been commercialized, they will offer the construction industry a new sustainable opportunity and quick win to meet maximum recycled content requirements while also reinforcing their green credentials.“
Our aim is to fill the gap for quality recycled building materials, made from products whose disposal would otherwise go to landfill and in doing so, drive the successful introduction of recycled roofing materials in the United Kingdom.”
Roy Brown, President and Chief Executive of Knowaste Ltd added: “More than 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste is disposed of in the UK each year – a figure that highlights the importance of developing alternative uses for post-consumer nappies. There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products. We see this as a win-win opportunity.”
SmallPlanet roofing materials will be manufactured by Mailbox Mouldings in Stalybridge, Cheshire. The environmentally friendly production process utilizes recycled materials that are both pliable and durable to produce the roof tiles that will be available in a standard black colour or with an additional natural stone granulate in Forest Green, Granite Grey, Traditional Red and Broadleaf Brown.
The tiles are UV resistant, colourfast and non-corrosive and their ultra-light weight nature allows for easy installation. The unique design also makes the materials easy to play, saw and cut and provide good thermal insulation and sound absorption. The tiles are suitable for a wide range of buildings and purposes including non-traditional and traditional housing, pre-fabricated and industrial buildings, over-roofing of asbestos, felt or industrial sheeting, conversion of flat to pitched roofs, sheds, conservatories, garages and stables.
Old Nappies to be Recycled into Building Products
Published Date: 2009-08-27
By: Anthony Clark - www.PRW.com
The Knowaste recycling plant at Tyseley, Birmingham, has signed a deal with SmallPlanet building products that will see plastics recovered from nappies turned into plastic cladding, tiles and other building products. The £12 million facility, which is due to be completed in spring 2010, will be capable of annually processing 36,000 tonnes of nappies.“
There is a real opportunity to open up a new market in construction, offering sustainable products that come with clear benefits for the building and housing sector, which are increasingly being asked to improve sustainability credentials,” said Bill Knoupe, general manager of SmallPlanet Building Products.
The Tyseley plant is the first of four UK plants planned by Knowaste. Aside from recycling nappies and personal care products, it will also convert organic waste into methane.
Recycled Nappies to be Used for DIY Products
Published Date: 2009-08-25
By: www.DIYweek.net
Recycling technologies developer, Knowaste, launches new venture, which sees roofing materials manufactured from recycled plastic in nappies and incontinence products.
The new company, SmallPlanet Building Products Ltd, will manufacture a range of roofing solutions made from recycled plastic – initially from a variety of sources.
However, Knowaste’s ultimate aim is to utilise the plastic recyclates produced at what will be the UK’s first nappy recycling plant.
The plant is scheduled to open in Tyseley in Birmingham next spring and will process and sanitise nappies and adult incontinence products, were the plastic will be recreated into a variety of DIY products, including plastic cladding, siding, decking and roof tiles.
The company plan to market and distribute the roofing products to building contractors, roofing supply companies, homebuilders and DIY, hardware and gardening stores.
SmallPlanet general manager Bill Knoupe said: “Our aim is to fill the gap for quality recycled building materials made from products whose disposal would otherwise go t landfill and in doing so, drive the successful introduction of recycled roofing materials in the United Kingdom.”
The roofing materials will be manufactured by Mailbox Mouldings in Stalybridge, Cheshire. Roof tiles will be available in a standard black, green, grey, red and brown.
Recycled Nappy Plastics to be Made into DIY Products
Published Date: 2009-08-25
By: Sarah Flanagan
The UK’s first disposable nappy recycling developer has announced reaching an agreement in Birmingham to turn the plastic recovered from the process into DIY products. T
yseley will be the site of the new £12 million Knowaste plant that is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010. Its link with SmallPlanet Building Products will mean that the plastic recovered from disposable nappy and incontinence product recycling will be made into plastic cladding, roof tiles and other building products – to be sold to DIY stores and directly to the construction industry.
The plant, situated on the Atlas Industrial Estate, is currently under construction. It will recycle 36,000 tonnes of disposable nappies and incontinence products annually that would otherwise have been sent to landfill, where they would take hundreds of years to decompose.
Bill Knoupe, who is the general manager of SmallPlanet Building Products, commented: “The construction industry is a significant user of material resources and energy, consuming 420 million tonnes of construction products in the UK every year. There is a real opportunity to open up a new market in construction, offering sustainable products that come with clear benefits for the building and housing sector, which are increasingly being asked to improve sustainability credentials.”
According to Knoupe, the construction companies that use the new recycled products will find that it is easier for them to meet their recycling targets and to highlight their green credentials in marketing and advertising campaigns. He said: “Our aim is to fill the gap for quality recycled building materials made from products whose disposal would otherwise go to landfill.”
Thanks to www.birminghampost.net for the above quotes. For more information on this article, please visit their website.
Nappy Recycling Developer to Turn Recovered Plastic into Roof Tiles
Published Date: 2009-08-20
Article Available Online at: www.BirminghamPost.net
The developer of Britain’s first disposable nappy recycling facility in Birmingham has signed a deal to turn the recovered plastic into DIY products.The £12 million Knowaste plant at Tyseley, set to open next spring, has linked with SmallPlanet Building Products, Ltd. It means plastic recovered from old nappies and incontinence products can be turned into roof tiles, plastic cladding and other building products and sold to the construction industry and DIY stores.
The plant on Atlas Industrial Estate under construction will recycle 36,000 tonnes of nappies a year which would otherwise have gone to landfill and taken hundreds of years to rot. Bill Knoupe, general manager of SmallPlanet Building products, Ltd, said: “The construction industry is a significant user of material resources and energy, consuming 420 million tonnes of construction products in the UK every year. There is a real opportunity to open up a new market in construction, offering sustainable products that come with clear benefits for the building and housing sector, which are increasingly being asked to improve sustainability credentials.”Building companies using their products would find it easier to meet recycling targets and emphasise their green credentials. “Our aim is to fill the gap for quality recycled building materials, made from products whose disposal would otherwise go to landfill.”
The tough but lightweight tiles will be available in traditional slate colours and suitable for a wide range of buildings and homes.The Tyseley plant is the first of four planned by Knowaste in the UK and will also convert any organic waste into methane energy.
Knowaste chief executive Roy Brown said: There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products. We see this as a win-win opportunity.”
Roof Tiles Will Soon be Made from Recycled Nappies
Published Date: 2009-08-06
Read the article on-line at: www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=16802
Knowaste, the recycling specialist, will open the plant next year and the roofing products will be made by Mailbox Mouldings and distributed by Knowaste's spin-off company Small Planet Building Products. Until the plant is up and running, the tiles will use recycled plastic from a variety of sources. The roof tiles will be available in black, green, grey, red and brown.
The recycling process turns the waste into plastic and cellulose organic residue for green energy. The plastic will also be used for decking and cladding.
Roy Brown, president and chief executive of Knowaste, said: "More than 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste is disposed of in the UK each year - a figure that highlights the importance of developing alternative uses for post-consumer nappies.
"There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products."
Source: BMJ
New Plant Will Make Roof Tiles from Nappies
Published Date: 2009-07-30
By: Stephen Kennett
Original Article Available online at: www.Building.com
Birmingham recycling plant will turn plastic element of sanitary waste into building productsA recycling plant is to be built in Birmingham that will supply roof tiles made from recycled nappies.The facility, due to open in 2010, is being developed by Knowaste, a specialist in recycling nappies and adult incontinence products. The roofing products, which will be manufactured by Mailbox Mouldings and distributed by Knowaste's spin-off company Small Planet Building Products, use recycled plastic that will initially come from a variety of sources until the Birmingham plant is up and running.The recycling process sanitises the waste to produce two outputs: plastic and cellulose organic residue for green energy. The plastic will be made into a variety of products, including plastic cladding, decking and roof tiles.Roy Brown, president and chief executive of Knowaste, said: "More than 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste is disposed of in the UK each year - a figure that highlights the importance of developing alternative uses for post-consumer nappies. There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products."The roof tiles will be available in black, green, grey, red and brown.
Read more: http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=747&storycode=3146006&c=3#ixzz0MqA6eaHL
Roof Tiles to be Made from Recycled Nappies
Published Date: 2009-08-04
By: Stephen Hurrell
Original Article Available at: www.clickgreen.org.uk
Roofing tiles are traditionally made from concrete, slate or clay, but one UK company has discovered a novel new material – used nappies.
Knowaste has launched a new company, SmallPlanet Building Products, which will produce roof tiles from plastic waste from the sanitising of nappies and adult incontinence products.
The unlikely venture will begin production of plastic cladding, decking and roof tiles when the UK’s first Knowaste nappy recycling plant opens in Birmingham in 2010.
The recycling of nappies produces the plastic needed for the tiles, as well as a cellulose organic residue that can be used for green energy.
Bill Knoupe, General Manager of SmallPlanet Building Products, points out that the construction industry is a significant user of materials and energy.
He said: “There is a real opportunity to open up a new market in construction, offering sustainable products that come with clear benefits for the building and housing sectors, which are increasingly being asked to improve sustainability credentials.
“Once the tiles have been commercialised they will offer the construction industry a new sustainable opportunity and quick way to meet maximum recycled content requirements while also reinforcing their green credentials.
“Our aim is to fill the gap for quality recycled building materials, made from products whose disposal would otherwise increase landfill and, in doing so, drive the successful introduction of recycled roofing materials in the United Kingdom.”
Nearly three billion nappies are thrown away each year, with around 90 percent ending up in landfill sites, causing a large number of councils in the UK to join the Real Nappy Campaign in an effort to reduce the quantity of nappies at landfill sites.
Knoupe believes Smallplanet Building Products can offer a solution to the problem. He said: “Our aim is to fill the gap for quality recycled building materials, made from products whose disposal would otherwise go to landfill and in doing so, drive the successful introduction of recycled roofing materials in the United Kingdom.”
Roy Brown, President and Chief Executive of Knowaste, added: “More than 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste is disposed of in the UK each year - a figure that highlights the importance of developing alternative uses for post-consumer nappies. There is an obvious potential for synergy between the material waste produced by industry and householders and the raw materials required to produce construction products. We see this as a win-win opportunity.”
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Making a Clean Start
Published Date: 2009-03-05
By: Birmingham Post
Peter Douglas Osborn says a new recycling plant is part of the tradition of public health advances.
The decision to approve a groundbreaking recycling plant in Tyseley arises directly from the fact that this country produces 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste per year, which at present finds its way into municipal and country landfill sites.
The project, to be run by a company called Knowaste, will provide 22 jobs and deal with 36,000 tonnes of local nappies a year, which will then be recycled into roof tiles and cladding.
It is hoped that methane resulting from the process, by being burnt in power generation equipment, will make the site self-sufficient and possibly contribute electricity to the National Grid.
The civic relevance is, in effect, a public health issue and our need to tackle that issue. Not since 1842 has this country decided to deal with the potential health problems arising from the non-treatment of human waste left in a static environment. The dangers of contamination, which can feed into the water table and in some places to the water supply, are obvious.
In those early days of Victorian welfare experimentation, one Thomas Chadwick was employed to deal with reducing the number of deaths arising from dreadful sanitary conditions.T
he Chadwick Sanitary Report of 1844 addressed the frequent and, that year, calamitous outbreaks of Asian flu, cholera and typhus. Nearly ten per cent of Britain’s city population regularly fell ill as a result of these two diseases and, in a bad year, as many as eight per cent could die.
It was not limited to the poor and destitute. These diseases knew no class barriers, indeed the Queen’s Consort – Prince Albert - died of typhoid, probably from drinking contaminated water, in the last days of 1861.
However, when Parliament accepted the Chadwick report in 1848, the outcome was the first Public Health Act, and, for Birmingham, a consequent devolved public health committee, whose expenditure would be funded by a novel finance-raising power – the ‘rate.’
This was the origin of the local government that still exists today, where the population can be charged rates to administer their collective welfare.
The main features of the 1848 Public Health Act were the establishment of a Central Board of Health, then devolution of responsibility for water supplies and drainage to corporations, which allowed towns with corporation status to have a local board of health. As a further incentive, those towns where the death rate exceeded 2.3 per cent could have a local Board of Health imposed upon them.
However, the national Central Board of Health was not represented in the Cabinet by a minister, as it is today, so had limited power or funds. It was actively opposed in some areas and in those districts improvements were slow, hence the outbreaks as late as 1865.
Coupled with the fact that there were few qualifications in the subject and therefore less qualified staff to fulfil the obligations, the improvements were slow and under-funded until specific Corporation Acts, such as the Birmingham Corporation Act of 1875.
This enabled Joseph Chamberlain to introduce the Artisans Dwelling Act, enabling the compulsory purchase of the unsanitary and dilapidated buildings, or slums, that surrounded Birmingham’s Town Hall. This was his first great project that saw the health of the city improve and, in a spin-off benefit, provide space for the new Council House, municipal buildings and the building of a new street to be called Colmore Row.
Comment was made in the second reading of the Corporation Act that, although the Great Reform Bill of 1832 gave Parliamentary representation to the city, the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 did not democratise Birmingham. Councillors voted in by rate-payers could be out-voted by self-appointed Aldermen, who were not ratepayers.
Last month, the planning committee welcomed this new departure as both an improvement in taking up recycling, but also attending to the consequential health concerns, as a contribution to the sustainability of the city.* Peter Douglas Osborn is chairman of Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.
Green Light for UK's first Nappy Recycling Plant
Published Date: 2009-02-02
By: Complete Article Available at: www.letsrecycle.com
Plans to build the UK's first nappy recycling plant in Tyseley, near Birmingham, have been given the green light.
Knowaste hopes to reduce the number of disposable nappies which are sent to landfill in the UK.
Birmingham city council last week (February 19) granted planning permission for Canadian nappy recycling firm Knowaste to build a 36,000 tonne-per-year capacity facility which will recycle disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products.
The facility is expected to take waste collected from local hospitals by Birmingham-based collection firm Alpha Wastecare (Midlands) and recycle it into a variety of products including plastic cladding, roof tiles, bicycle helmets and plastic injection and extrusion products.
Knowaste is expecting the £12 million facility to be operational by the end of 2009 or early in 2010. It claims its process will remove 98% of the material in disposable nappies from the waste stream.
A spokesman for Knowaste said that whilst the majority of investors in the project were venture capitalists, some of the money was coming from commercial banks. It has appointed a contractor to build the facility and the spokesman said it will be "working on a plan over the coming weeks" but could not confirm when exactly construction would begin.
Knowaste chief executive, Roy Brown, said: "Disposable nappies have been described as the ‘convenience curse' of the 21st century. Until now, they have been one of the few remaining household items that go straight to landfills, or incinerators. In the UK we produce 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste each year, enough to fill Wembley Stadium hundreds of times over. "
There is therefore a clear and pressing need for a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to the UK and global challenge of dealing with nappy and adult incontinence product waste. Our pioneering recycling solution can help reduce the waste that goes to landfill by at least 4%."
Tonnage
Simon Bradley, business manager at Alpha Wastecare (Midlands), acknowledged that tonnages for the plant had not yet been secured by his firm. However, he said that the company was in "positive" talks with a number of hygiene contractors for the Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
He explained that Alpha Wastecare (Midland) would supply separate 70 litre bins, free of charge, to hospitals so that nappies could be source-separated.
He added: "Now it has planning permission we expect to get things signed soon. One contractor has already indicated its commitment to signing with us."
Alpha Wastecare (Midlands) is also in on-going talks with a number of local authorities in the area about developing a kerbside nappy collection for households.Facilities
Facility
The Tyseley facility is the first of a number of nappy recycling facilities that Knowaste is hoping to build in the UK. It is investing £20 million in the UK and said Tyseley is the "cornerstone" of its plans.
In Jannuary, Mr Brown revealed that the company was in talks with the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWaRB) to build a nappy recycling plant in London and had been scouting areas in the north east for another suitable site (see letsrecycle.com story).
Overall, Knowaste intends to build five more facilities by 2012. But, Mr Brown, stressed: "While we are looking at other sites, the focus is getting the Birmingham facility up-and-running."
Mr Brown added: "Our longer-term goal is to open plants in other locations in the UK, which will further enable local authorities to meet their increasingly tough landfill diversion targets and avoid landfill taxes and penalties.
"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."
UK waste adviser Peter Jones, who sits on the LWaRB, commented: "Extending the line of materials that can be recycled to include nappy waste presents further opportunities for families, especially those with small children and will help boost the nation's recycling rate."
This technology is also an exemplar for the NHS in terms of hospital and domicilliary incontinence products as it can also make a significant contribution to the Government's Green Procurement objectives."
Looking to the future, the policy need in the UK to further reduce the waste we send to landfill must be driven by innovative, low carbon solutions for the management of waste materials. Today's decision by Birmingham City Council represents a courageous and positive step."
In January, Mr Brown said he hoped the Tyseley facility would be a catalyst for people to see nappy recycling is possible and pave the way for more facilities in the UK. Knowaste is also planning to build facilities on the Continent in Portugal and Slovenia.
Relief for Parents' Disposable Nappy Guilt
Published Date: 2009-02-20
By: Lewis Smith, Environment Reporter
From The Times
Read the entire article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5769183.ece
A scheme to recycle thousands of tonnes of used disposable nappies into everything from tiles to bicycle helmets and, eventually, to extract methane from them to generate energy is about to start.
The first of five plants designed to reclaim the plastic and fibres used to make nappies and incontinence pads will open in Birmingham, with four others planned by 2014 for cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and London.
The £12 million Birmingham plant will be able to process 36,000 tonnes a year, with plastic recovered from the nappies and pads used initially to make roof tiles. Other items, including cycling helmets, shoe insoles and cladding, could be made later.
In a second phase, which executives at Knowaste, the Canadian company that will operate the plant, hope to have running by the end of 2011, methane will be extracted from the used nappies and sold to the national gas grid.
Babies go though more than 3,600 throwaway nappies each before they are potty-trained, and parents are only too well aware of the guilt induced by the feeling of waste. An estimated 800,000 tonnes of nappies and incontinence pads are used every year in Britain and virtually all end up in landfill.
By setting up nappy recycling sites in several cities. Knowaste, which has already opened plants in Canada and the Netherlands, hopes to reduce the quantity of material being sent to landfill by 4 per cent. Roy Brown, the company's chief executive, said: “This stuff doesn't biodegrade. It is going to be there for 50 or 100 years from now. These are valuable materials that should be reclaimed. Other than our process there's very little you can do with it.”
Collections of nappies and incontinence pads will be made only at commercial premises such as nurseries and care homes to begin with, but kerbside collections may eventually be introduced. Mr Brown said he hoped that council recycling centres and re-cycling sites at supermarkets and other locations would install containers where parents could leave nappies.
As well as plastics, nappies and pads contain fibres, cellulose and superabsorbent polymers. The longer fibres can be separated for making products such as biodegradable plant pots. The rest will be used to improve sewage processing, Knowaste says, though at a later stage the superabsorbent polymers could be separated and re-used. Planners at Birmingham City Council welcomed the plant for the environmental benefits that it will bring and for creating 22 full-time jobs.
MRW - Green Light for UK's First Nappy Recycling Facility
Published Date: 2009-02-20
By: Liz Gyekye
Article online at http://www.mrw.co.uk
Birmingham City Council has granted planning permission to build the UK's first nappy recycling plant in the city.
The £20 million facility will be built by recycling company Knowaste and built in Tyseley, Birmingham. Once up and running the facility can recycle 36,000 tonnes of the city's nappies and absorbent hygiene products including bedliners, and incontinence products.
The recycling facility uses a gasification process to shred the material and separate the plastics from the nappy. The slurry that is left is used to create energy to power the plant.
Every nappy is sanitised. The plastic recyclates from the facility can be recreated into a variety of products including plastic cladding or roof tiles.
Knowaste chief executive Roy Brown said: "Disposable nappies have been described as the convenience curse of the 21st century. Until now, they have been one of the few remaining household items that go straight to landfills, or incinerators. In the UK we produce 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste each year, enough to fill Wembley Stadium hundreds of times over.
There is therefore a clear and pressing need for a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to the UK and global challenge of dealing with nappy and adult incontinence product waste. Our pioneering recycling solution can help reduce the waste that goes to landfill by at least 4%."
Brown hopes to open plants in other locations in the UK in the future and aims to recycle 13% of all of the UK's nappy waste.London Waste and Recycling Board adviser Peter Jones said that "this new technology represents a new dawn for the UK and the way we tackle our rubbish".
He added: "This technology is also an exemplar for the NHS in terms of hospital and domiciliary incontinence products as it can also make a significant contribution to the Government's Green Procurement objectives."The facility will be built by the end of the year.
Original article available at: http://www.mrw.co.uk/page.cfm/action=Archive/ArchiveID=26/EntryID=5129
Green Light for UK's First Nappy Recycling Plant
Published Date: 2009-02-19
Birmingham City Council has today granted planning permission to build the UK’s first nappy recycling plant in the city.
The 28000 sq ft plant in Tyseley, Birmingham, is the cornerstone of a £20m plus UK investment programme by Knowaste Ltd, the world’s leading developer of recycling technologies for nappies and personal care products. When up and running, this unique solution will enable recycling of approximately 36,000 tonnes of the city’s nappies and other absorbent hygiene products including bedliners, and incontinence products.
The Knowaste recycling process sanitises every nappy and enables 98% of the disposable nappy to be removed from the waste stream. The plastic recyclates from the Knowaste process can be recreated into a variety of products, including plastic cladding, roof tiles, bicycle helmets and plastic injection and extrusion products. The sludge that is produced from the process is high in cellulose fibre content, which means it has excellent dewatering characteristics.
In the longer term green energy will be generated from the bio mass treatment of the sludge. This will create a methane gas and can be sold back to the Grid.
Roy Brown, President and CEO of Knowaste, said: “Disposable nappies have been described as the ‘convenience curse’ of the 21st century. Until now, they have been one of the few remaining household items that go straight to landfills, or incinerators. In the UK we produce 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste each year, enough to fill Wembley Stadium hundreds of times over.
“There is therefore a clear and pressing need for a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to the UK and global challenge of dealing with nappy and adult incontinence product waste. Our pioneering recycling solution can help reduce the waste that goes to landfill by at least 4%.
“Our longer-term goal is to open plants in other locations in the UK, which will further enable local authorities to meet their increasingly tough landfill diversion targets and avoid landfill taxes and penalties.
“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.”
Birmingham-based waste contractor, Alpha Wastecare (Midlands) Ltd is the chosen UK-partner for collection of the waste. Paul Richardson, Managing Director, Alpha Wastecare (Midlands), commented: “With a number of landfill sites in the UK already near to capacity, focusing on developing new recycling solutions is critical to the future management of waste. The UK has made great strides in increasing recycling rates over the last 15 years but we still lag behind many other European countries. We are delighted to be working with Knowaste and are confident this new technology will help close this gap in recycling rates.”
UK waste adviser Peter Jones said: “Recycling is a valuable and important contribution to the fight on global warming and this new technology represents a new dawn for the UK and the way we tackle our rubbish.
“Two thirds of households now recycle as a way of life. Extending the line of materials that can be recycled to include nappy waste presents further opportunities for families, especially those with small children and will help boost the nation’s recycling rate.
“This technology is also an exemplar for the NHS in terms of hospital and domicilliary incontinence products as it can also make a significant contribution to the Government’s Green Procurement objectives.
“Looking to the future, the policy need in the UK to further reduce the waste we send to landfill must be driven by innovative, low carbon solutions for the management of waste materials. Today’s decision by Birmingham City Council represents a courageous and positive step.”
The Tyseley facility will be based on Knowaste’s successful models in other countries, which have recycled over 200,000 tonnes of nappies.
Knowaste is also making significant headway in Europe with plans to open its first processing facility in Slovenia this summer after signing a joint venture agreement with Slovenian waste disposal company Aico Eko d.o.o. The company is also part of a consultation being undertaken by the Portugese government, which is investigating the feasibility of nappy recycling. Plans to create recycling facilities in Germany and Belgium are also at an advanced stage.
In addition, Knowaste will be undertaking a road show across the UK in June, visiting 10 cities to showcase the technology and further raise awareness of the environmental benefits of nappy recycling.
The planning permission follows a recent survey carried out by askamum.co.uk, the website of Mother & Baby magazine, which was commissioned by Knowaste and showed that parents in the UK are keen to see disposable nappy recycling become reality. The study amongst 1,600 plus parents revealed that the vast majority (95%) want disposable nappy recycling as part of their standard household waste collection to avoid them being landfilled. Moreover, 84% would prefer to dispose of nappy waste by recycling as against incineration (8.6%).
Furthermore the Nappy Days study revealed that 93% of mums and dads feel a degree of uneasiness when throwing nappies out with the rest of their waste. More than nine in ten would segregate nappies for collection and recycling in a similar way to other items, such as glass and tins, and 83% would support a fortnightly collection if they knew nappies would be recycled rather than taken to landfill.
Ends
Notes to editors
For more information please contact Sarah Rice, Matt Wooldridge, Kathryn Williams or Chris Lawrance on 01179 073 404 or email sarah@jbp.co.uk or kathryn@jbp.co.uk
About Knowaste
The Knowaste vision is to contribute to the long-term health of the planet by introducing cost effective technologies that can recycle disposable absorbent hygiene products. The company began research in this area in 1989 and has been commercially active for the past 10 years. Knowaste has processed and diverted over 200,000 tonnes of nappies in that time. The company is also planning processing facilities in Portugal and Slovenia by 2009. Website: www.knowaste.com
Nappy Recycling Company Confident of Planning Success
Published Date: 2009-01-22
By: LetsRecycle.com
Canadian nappy recycling firm Knowaste has said it is confident it will receive planning permission next month to build the UK's first nappy recycling facility at Tylseley, in Birmingham.
If permission is granted the company is anticipating being able to begin construction on its 36,000 tonne-a-year capacity facility in March this year.
Roy Brown, the firm's chief executive, told letsrecycle.com that he was "expecting" the £10 million facility to get planning permission from Birmingham city council in February 2009, and he indicated that Knowaste had worked "very closely" with the planning department and the local community to ensure that approval was given. And, Mr Brown said: "We're hoping by the fourth quarter of 2009 we can be operational."
The company announced that it has chosen the site in April last year (see letsrecycle.com story) and, speaking to letrecycle.com yesterday, Mr Brown said contracts were already in place with Midlands-based waste management firm, Alpha Wastecare, to supply nappies, in a deal that is set to start in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Mr Brown explained that he hoped the proposed new facility, to be built on an industrial estate, would be a catalyst for people to see that nappy recycling is possible and pave the way for the company to build more facilities in the UK.And, he said facilities like Tylseley were necessary to divert the 800,000 tonnes of nappies per-year that end up in landfill and revealed that Knowaste is ploughing ahead with plans to build five more facilities by 2012.
London
Knowaste is currently in discussion with the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to build a facility in the London area. Knowaste originally began talks with former mayor Ken Livingstone in 2005 (see lestrecycle.com story). In the long-term Mr Brown hopes London will have four facilities in total with the first one becoming operational in 2010.And, the company is also scouting areas in the north east - between Sheffield and Newcastle - to find a suitable location for another new facility.
Downturn
This is despite the economic downturn that has gripped the nation and affected the funding of new facilities in some sectors. Mr Brown explained: "Waste is not recession-proof but it will be created and this type of waste is especially difficult to treat."He added: "Funding for our facilities does not come from banks; we work with venture capitalists and provide our own funding from internal revenues."We do not believe we will have any difficulty getting funding because the key focus for our investors is getting planning permission."
Markets
Knowaste is also confident about markets for outputs from its reprocessing process, which is currently designed to produce plastic roof tiles. Mr Brown said the market for roof tiles had reduced because of the "difficulties in the construction sector". However, he explained that this is not a problem for Knowaste as its reprocessing process can be altered to produce other, more marketable, products.The process also produces methane which can be converted into electricity which can be sold to the National Grid and Mr Brown said the Tylseley facility will produce 3MW.Mr Brown said he is "looking forward" to Knowaste fulfilling its 10-year contract with Alpha Wastecare, and the contract with the collection firm has increased from 30,000 tonnes to 36,000 tonnes-a-year since it was signed last year. Mr Brown explained that the Birmingham facility would have to run 24/7 to process this amount of material.
Municipal trials
Alpha Wastecare collects nappies from NHS buildings, such as hospitals, and other clinical organisations. It is also planning to collect from the municipal waste sector.Simon Bradley, business manager at Alpha Wastecare, explained that, in the next few months, it is due to run a kerbside trial collection covering 200 homes with a local district council and is in talks with another local authority nearby about another trial.
Related links· Knowaste · Alpha Wastecare
Mr Brown said disposable nappies are a long-term problem and added that government incentives to encourage people to use reusable nappies have failed. He explained 97% of people with children choose disposables and he does not see this changing.He commented: "That's where the problem is and that is why we are addressing the issue. 36,000 is just a drop in the ocean as about 800,000 tonnes is produced each year. The Tylseley plant will just scratch the surface of the need."
For more information please contact Sarah Rice or Matt Wooldridge on 01179 073 400 or email: sarah@jbp.co.uk or matt@jbp.co.uk
Knowaste moves into Eastern Europe
Published Date: 2009-01-01
Knowaste, the world’s leading developer of recycling technologies for nappies and personal care products, has announced that it will be opening its first processing facility in Slovenia in the summer of 2009 after signing a joint venture agreement with Slovenian waste disposal company Aico Eko d.o.o.
The agreement involves Knowaste building and operating a facility for the recycling of absorbent hygiene products including disposable baby nappies, incontinence materials and disposable bed liners, into sanitized re-usable paper pulp and plastic components. By partnering with Aico Eko, Knowaste expects to process some 10,000 tonnes of nappy waste per annum.
The joint venture agreement follows Knowaste’s announcement last month of its first site in the UK in Birmingham, which is due to go live at the beginning of 2009 and is part of a £20m investment programme by the company across the country.
The agreement marks the introduction of Knowaste’s recycling technology in Eastern Europe. The facility, which will be based in Ilirska Bistrica, will enable 98% of the disposable nappy to be removed from the waste stream and recreated into a variety of products, including plastic cladding, roof tiles, bicycle helmets and plastic injection and extrusion products.
Nappies are one of the few remaining household items that, until now, could not be recycled and they can take up to 500 years to decompose, creating significant public health and environmental risks.
Barbara Sterlekar, a Director at Aico Eko d.o.o, said: “Recycling is nowadays the best possible way to treat waste. The scale of nappies and incontinence products generated across the world creates a major environmental challenge. We are therefore delighted to be positively contributing to the environment by recycling these absorbent hygiene products in Slovenia through our agreement with Knowaste.”
Roy Brown, President and CEO of Knowaste, said: “In response to this challenge our recycling process offers a sustainable, low cost, environmentally friendly waste management solution for nappies and other absorbent hygiene products.
“It diverts untreated human waste from landfills thereby preventing public health risks; diverts some 98% of nappy waste from going to landfill, thereby dramatically reducing associated gases such as methane and carbon dioxide; and at the same time creates new products.”
The Knowaste vision is to contribute to the long term health of the planet by introducing cost effective technologies that can recycle disposable absorbent hygiene products. The company began research in this area in 1989 and has been commercially active for the past 10 years. Knowaste has processed and diverted over 200,000 tonnes of nappies in that time.
Knowaste is planning more than 20 recycling facilities for absorbent hygiene products throughout Europe in the next five years.
Notes to editorsFor further information please contact Chris Lawrance or Jennifer Bryant-Pearson on 0117 9073400, or email chris@jbp.co.uk; jennifer@jbp.co.uk
New Manager Appointed to Tyseley Nappy Recycling Project
Published Date: 2009-01-15
By: Birmingham Post
Knowaste, the nappy recycling technologies firm which has revealed plans to build the UK’s first nappy recycling plant in Tyseley, has appointed Dave Jelley general manager.Mr Jelley, aged 58, born in Birmingham and who lives in Walsall, has been in the waste industry 38 years including time spent running his own business.
He has been working with designers and construction engineers to build Material Recycling Facilities at SITA, Willenhall and at AWM, Wolverhampton. Mr Jelley’s role will be initially to project-manage development of the new facility at Tyseley upon planning permission being granted, and develop close links with local stakeholders.When the plant is open he will be responsible for operations including the daily running and staffing of the site, managing transportation, deliveries and maintenance.
He said: “I have been in the industry 38 years and this is the most exciting business I have been involved in to date.Knowaste’s technology is set to revolutionise the way the UK deals with nappy waste and ensure it does not go to landfill. The region will be able to be proud of itself for leading the way in the UK when it comes to recycling innovation.” Proposals for a 42,000 sq ft plant at the former Atlas Works site on Redfern Rd recently went on display at Birmingham City Football Club.
The plant will be capable of recycling 30,000 tonnes of nappies a year, reducing the amount of municipal waste sent to the region’s shrinking landfill and helping the local authority meet landfill diversion targets.Recycled plastic is used to make products such as roof tiles while non-recyclable waste is used to generate electricity sold into the grid. The new facility will be based on Knowaste’s models in other countries which have recycled over 200,000 tonnes.Bedliners and incontinence products will also be recycled to make a variety of products including plastic cladding and roof tiles. If its planning application is successful, Knowaste hopes the plant will be operational this year.
For more information please contact Sarah Rice or Matt Wooldridge on 01179 073 400 or email: sarah@jbp.co.uk or matt@jbp.co.uk
Nappies on the Roof!!?!!
Published Date: 2009-01-29
By: Guy Battle’s Blog
http://www.planet-positive.org/blog
Earlier this year, concerned about my growing family's impact onthe environment, I was engrossed in teh nappy debate; disposables or reusables? (see blog) Finally, with a little help from my GreenParent.com friends, I opted for second hand reusble nappies, washing at 40 degrees C and line drying. Unfortunately, my experiment did not last very long as the hassle of handling and washing proved too much for us. Yes, I feel bad, but one has to be real and recognise one's practical limits - Reusable nappies are not for us - sorry!
But all is not lost and there is hope on the horizon offered int eh form of Knowaste.
Knowaste is a Canadian company which potentially provides an alternative and acceptable solution. The company is providing the UK's first absorbent gygiene product recycling facility which will not only recylce an estimated 750,000 tonnes of nappy waste produced every year int eh UK, but also provide a treatment system for the large quantities of feminine hygiene products (a market int eh UK worth £298m a year) and the ever growing adult incontinence pad market.
The first Knowaste plant will open in West Bromwich in mid 2010 for collections from the Birmingham area with four other plants are planned by 20104 for Manchester, Liverpool and London.
The Birmingham plant alone will prevent 36,000 tonnes of nappy waste, feminine hygiene products and adult incontinence pads from going to landfill each year with the "waste" being reused to produce resalable, clean and hygienic sterile plastics and an energy source capable of fueling the plant, with excess energy sold to the national grid.
Not wanting to take their word for it, dcarbon8 are currently carrying out a full LCA according to ISO 14044 and working to measure the environmental impacts of the treatment of the waste, in comparison to other forms of waste disposal for UK operations.
But I understand for the dc8 team that Knowaste is not stopping there as they have recently launched a new company called SmallPlanet Building Products which plans to use the plastic recovered from the recycling plant to manufacture roofing tiles and systems. Who would have thought that nappies would end up on your roof!!
Is it a good solution, is it "acceptable". Well we will find out and I will publish the data whatever the answer but on the face of it, they could provide an option to the increasing number of parents, like me who really do care about how nappies are disposed of BUT cannot or are unable to cope with the real practicalities of dealing with the reusable nappy.
For more information please contact Kathryn Williams on 01179 073 400 or email: Kathryn.Williams@jbp.co.uk
