NEWS
In-vessel
composting plant opens in Devon
The
first of a potential county-wide network of in-vessel composting facilities
opened in July 2005 at Heathfield in Devon.
The plant is the
fifth to be built in the UK by Cambridge Recycling Services (CRS). It is
built to animal by-product regulation standards, and has the capacity to process
over 20,000 tonnes a year of organic waste. Once processed, the product will be used in a major landfill restoration project.
www.letsrecycle.com/materials/composting/news.jsp?story=4703
___________________________________________________________
‘The Soggy Lettuce Report’ from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme
- see section 10) showed in 2004 that the average person throws away £424 of food. A shopping list of shame revealed that over half of people in the UK throw away lettuce, bags of salad, loaves of bread and fruit every week simply because they didn’t have
a chance to eat them before they went off or exceeded the sell-by date. Also
regularly wasted were pints of milk, cooked meat, packet foods, cheese, prepared meals and unfinished bottles of wine.
Richard Swannell, WRAP’s Head of Innovation, said: “£424 a year for every adult in the UK is a massive figure.
Imagine how much easier Christmas would be if that money had ended up in our pockets instead of our bins. We
aim to show consumers the simple ways in which shopping habits can be changed to make a big difference to the yearly shopping bill and cut the vast amount of waste being produced in the UK every year.”
Eating money
It’s not just food waste that is costing us money. Up to £470 is spent each year by households purely on food packaging -
it makes up over 40% of the waste ending up in our bins. That’s 4.5 million tonnes per year, the vast majority of which ends up in landfill
sites, and increasingly, incinerators. In poorer societies with large numbers
of small-scale farmers, most food waste is fed to domestic
animals or composted into soil conditioners and fertilisers. Those with memories of postwar Britain will recall the municipal
pigbins which graced the urban street scene and served a similar
purpose.
However, such arrangements are not convenient for industrial scale agriculture. Nor are they helped by regulations which now require foods of animal origin to be sterilised in licensed plants before re-use as feed, in the interests of controlling disease. So less waste is recycled, and millions of tonnes of food trade waste end in landfills. Nevertheless, a reprocessing industry does exist as a network of processors - mainly farmers.
Anaerobic digestion
In-vessel composting (an anaerobic process, meaning absence of oxygen), using
heat to break down harmful bacteria, seems one of the most efficient ways of
reducing sometimes dangerous kitchen waste to a benign and even positive source
of soil nutrient. This is particularly welcome, as intensive farming and
lack of crop rotation has caused serious soil erosion over the last few
decades. But it has yet to take off in a big way. It is worrying
that instead some local authorities have opted for the apparently 'quick fix' of
long-term contracts for incinerators which consume a wide variety of recyclable
municipal waste, producing as they do dangerous dioxins, while acting to
discourage waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
An earlier report, commissioned by the charity Crisis, said that the £350 million worth of wholesome but ‘close to sell-by date’ food ending in landfills or incinerators each year is enough to feed 270,000 homeless people. The danger of food poisoning is a limiting factor, but significant amounts are redistributed by well-organised charitable networks. This could grow sharply through the "Provision" and "Fair Share" redistribution schemes working with major food stores.
The helpful worm
For domestic scale quantities of waste, a solar heat-assisted composter
may provide a hygienic and convenient solution, provided there is
good soil drainage and a sunny position. Vermiculture, or worm
composting, is another option, where worm
colonies are deliberately introduced to help compost concentrated organic materials such as food waste. It is
particularly suitable for domestic application, but operations on
a municipal scale reported by Warmer Bulletin include those at La
Voulte, France (15 tonnes per day of organic household waste);
and Bombay, India (four tonnes per day of slaughterhouse waste).
Adur District Council, West Sussex, pioneered the first domestic scheme in Britain using Tiger Worms (Eisenia Foetida). As the name suggests, they are striped, with voracious appetites, and are quite different to their common earthworm cousins. Although sometimes encountered in the filth surrounding ill-maintained drain surrounds, their favourite diet is fresh food waste. Nearly all is accepted, apart from acidic scraps like teabags and onion peelings. Under suitable conditions (air, warmth and moisture) they consume more than their own weight daily, procreate frequently and live up to four years. The end product (literally) is a highly concentrated, odour-free plant nutrient.
Other councils have followed, and commercial and mail-order kits are now available. Containers include versions for use indoors and an educational aid with a viewing window. Like a dog, however, they are not just for Christmas! As living creatures, they do need regular attention.
Home-grown and locally produced food, providing nutrients and energy through reuse and recycling, together with the need to reduce synthetic chemicals so organisms in the soil can function properly, will become increasingly essential for a safe, healthy and sustainable world for our families and future generations. For more information see section 440, Organic and low-input food and drink.
Also see
Green waste and composting
(11)
Used vegetable oils and fats
(13)
Materials exchange (waste exchanges)
(120)
Anaerobic digestion
(190)
Organic and low-input food and drink
(440)
Alphabetical list of organisations
Alpheco Composting Ltd
Tel/Fax 01473 730259 Fax 01473 730325 Mobile 07768 316214
Email alpheco@anglianet.co.uk
Website www.alpheco.co.uk
Westhill, Copdock, IPSWICH, Suffolk IP8 3ET
Contact Neil Winship
Manufactures original and wide range of composting containers from kitchen and doorstep to large scale industrial. Users can choose any combination for their own needs. Containers offer controlled composting of any biowastes in any weather. Designed to maximise energy efficiency, eg 'MidiComp Aergestors' for skip lorries, or 'MaxiComp' for larger Rollonoff trucks. 'Biocoll' is for domestic and commercial biowaste collection, enabling source separation of 'anything that lived' to produce high quality compost at competitive prices. Households use small 'biobins' (up to 30 litres) with lids, that can be tipped by hand into 120 litre bins on a door to door pedestrian controlled vehicle (PCV). These bins are in turn transferred to a truck. The putrescible wastes are mixed, and transferred to the composting vessel. Bulky woody wastes are periodically chipped at kerbside before collection. Satellite siting, with electronically linked operations, gives major haulage savings through economies of scale. (Updated May 2004)
Biffa Waste Services
Tel 01494 521221 Freephone 0800 307 307 Fax 01494 463368
Email marketing@biffa.co.uk Website
www.biffa.co.uk
Coronation Road, Cressex , HIGH WYCOMBE, Bucks HP12 3TZ
Waste management subsidiary of Severn Trent plc, operating a joint scheme with Elm Farm Research Centre to turn supermarket waste into compost suitable for organic farming.
Bioplex Ltd
Tel 01264 810569 Fax 01264 810131
Email enquiries@bioplex.co.uk
Websites www.bioplex.co.uk www.safe-waste.com
Windover Farm, Longstock, STOCKBRIDGE, Hants SO20 6DJ
Systems design engineers; recycling research and development. Has won various innovation awards. Designs and provides systems which, by anaerobic digestion, process organic material, residue and wastes, biomass, and fuel crops into composting and briquetting - converting to energy, fibre and organic fertilisers. Promotes environmental and political advantages of replacing peat and petrochemical based fertilisers. Thermophilic treatment and recycling of organic wastes using low-cost, mobile and modular 'Portagester' (costs similar to weeping wall or lagoon and separator). Produces organic fertiliser-rich material for farmland, forestry and topsoil, especially applicable within the rural community. Development of Portagester supported by ADAS and Reading University. Claims machinery is compact, quiet, easy to operate; inactivates disease pathogens; carbon dioxide neutral in global warming terms; no harmful combustion emissions such as dioxins and furans. Potential income bonus for farms able to store and spread digested material, derived from household/trade waste, on to land. Technologies patented worldwide. (Updated May 2004)
Cambridge Foodbank
Tel 01223 415341
Unit B, Rene Court, Coldham’s Road, CAMBRIDGE CB1 3EW
Email email@cambridgefoodbank.co.uk
Website www.cambridgefoodbank.co.uk
Contacts Project Development Manager Sarah Rowse
Collects surplus groceries from the food industry that would otherwise be landfilled,
redistributing them to over 35 voluntary and statutory sector agencies, working with
wide range of disadvantaged people. Addresses food surplus; landfill, waste and recycling; and social exclusion.
Collects from over 20 East Anglian manufacturing and retail donors. Works with schools, community and church
organisations to ensure additional food donations. Manages a ‘Shop and Share Scheme’ supported by 5 of the major supermarket
brands in Cambridge. Over 50 tonnes of food due for landfill was redistributed in 2002.
With partners Aspire Cambridge, provides employment, training and support for people moving out of
homelessness, and the ex-homeless. On committee
of
CCORRN
(Cambridgeshire Community Reuse and Recycling Network - see
130 Charity and community schemes or 200 Support services).
Items
supplied include: tinned foods; cereals; tea, coffee, sugar
; personal hygiene products ; cleaning products. Received award from Co-operative
Society's Partnerships scheme.
(Updated Jan 2004)
Clarke J E
Tel 01359 270166 Tel/Fax 01359 271162
Rookery Mead Farm, Tostock Road, Drinkstone, BURY ST EDMUNDS, Suffolk, IP30
9SP
Waste food processor. (Updated August 2005)
Community Composting Network
Tel / Fax 0114 258 0483 or 0114 255 3720
Email info@communitycompost.org
Website www.communitycompost.org
67 Alexandra Road, SHEFFIELD S2 3EE
Contact Nick McAllister (Co-ordinator)
Organisation promoting environmental, social and economic benefits of community composting to government and public, supporting good practice examples. Provides support, advice, representation and information, including health and safety, throughout UK to not-for-profit, locally accountable community composters working on very diverse projects, and those considering setting up a scheme. Organises conferences, training courses; provides quarterly newsletter, publications, guidebooks and library. 230 members. Membership £20 for not-for-profit community groups; £100 for affiliate members including LAs and suppliers within industry. Also offers consultancy service. (Updated Nov 2004)
Composting Association
Tel 0870 160 3270 Fax 0870 160 3280
Website www.compost.org.uk
Email membership@compost.org.uk
Avon House, Tithe Barn Road, WELLINGBOROUGH, Northants NN8 1DH
Contact Tony Breton, Communications Manager
National not for profit membership body researching and promoting sustainable management / aerobic treatment of organic waste (a biodegradable resource containing micro-organisms) - otherwise known as composting. This may be a way of treating pollutants before they are returned to the environment. Encourages people to make and use soil- enriching composts. Collects and spreads information for the trade, and works to set standards. Provides a united voice in UK, promoting benefits of composting to government and public, but does not answer composting enquiries from non-members. Operates certification schemes for compost and compostable packaging. 700 members from all waste sectors, including large scale composters, local authorities, suppliers, users, academics, individuals and students. Graduated membership fees. Members get quarterly Composting News, discounted publications, free information service, use of library, access to directory and members' area on website, reductions for conferences / training workshops. Visits by arrangement, no visitor parking. Separate Scottish branch. (Updated Nov 2004)
Crisis
Tel 0870 011 3335 or 0207 426 3851 Fax 0870 011 3336
66 Commercial Street, LONDON E1 6LT
Email or enquiries@crisis.org.uk
Website www.crisis.org.uk/fund/mobile.php
National charity providing practical help for single homeless people such as emergency shelter and hostel accommodation. It also established Fair Share (see below), a direct national redistribution scheme for wholesome but close to 'sell by' date food. Began originally in central London in conjunction with Sainsbury, Marks and Spencer and some smaller supermarkets. See also Crisis mobile phone recycling and donation scheme, section 87 Computers, phones and electronic goods. (Updated August 2005)
East London Community Recycling Project (ELCRP
)
Tel
020 8986 5608 Fax
020 8510 9537
Email manager@elcrp-recycling.com
Website www.elcrp-recycling.com
The Recycling Centre , 6 Muir Road, Nightingale Estate, Clapton, LONDON E5 8PG
Founded in 2001. Comprises several organisations who co-operate to provide a service greater than the sum of its parts. Works with local authority officers, social landlords and housing associations. National members of Community Composting Network and Community Recycling Network. Partnership arrangements with 20 organisations including Freeform Arts Trust (provides them with glass) and a small bicycle repair and rebuild group. Operates 'Recycling Shop'. Becoming well known for projects such as Food Waste Composting on Nightingale Estate and 600 tonne green (Parks) waste site on Hackney Marshes, including Christmas Tree Recycling, windrow composting for mulch, and vermiculture. First body in UK to be Environment Agency approved for Bokashi/Rocket System (Recycling Plus), heating food waste like cooked meat & fish at 60 degrees C for 6 days - safe compost is produced in 2-3 weeks. DEFRA (SVS) approves ELCRP waste minimisation system. Consultancy service, regular workshops and education classes on composting, recycling and the problems created by the Animal By-Products Regulation amongst others. Re-sult offers workshops and education opportunities to anyone interested. Run workshops for local authorities, both officers and elected councillors. (Updated Dec 2004)
FareShare
Tel 020 7394 2468 Fax 020 7394 2464 (National Management Team)
Email enquiries@fareshare.org.uk
Website www.fareshare.org.uk
Unit H04, Tower Bridge Business Complex, 100 Clements Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG
Contributes towards 3.3 million meals to 12,000 people in over 250 community projects, redistributing surplus from the food industry to vulnerable people in the community. Also, in supplying surplus food to other charities, the money saved can be used to provide vital services. Through the 'food X-change' idea, there are many ways that people help, from food donations to corporate membership. Launched by Crisis (see above) with other organisations. (Updated August 2005)
Fibropower
Tel 01379 871100 Fax 01379 871376
Website www.fibropower.com or www.eprl.co.uk/assets/eye/overview.html
Eye Power Station, Oaksmere Business Park, EYE, Suffolk IP23 7DH
The world's first poultry litter fuelled power generating plant, producing 12.7MW (commissioned 1992). Consumes 160,000 tonnes p.a. of chicken litter from many farms in the region, as well as clean, dry forest residues, and vegetable-based biomass, eg food waste, grains. Takes 7% of its fuel input in the form of feathers, a 'gate fee fuel' (trials under way to increase feather burn to 20%); and about 12% from other agricultural residues such as animal bedding that also carry a gate fee. In April 2004 planning permission for Eye was extended to allow a wide range of biomass fuels to be burned, giving greater flexibility. High quality fertilizer is also produced at the plant, marketed through an EPR group subsidiary, Fibrophos, to which ash is sold (a non-energy output). Its power output qualifies for ROC payments. Sale of output energy comprises a bundled contract for Energy, ROCs, LECs and embedded benefits. Subsidiary of EPR (Energy Power Resources) Ltd, which carries out operation and maintenance - EPR, Kinnaird House, 1 Pall Mall East, London SW1Y 5AU, Tel 020 7451 3500, Fax 0207 451 3555. (Updated August 2005)
Graham W L
Tel 01628 621387 / 07802 481946
Firtree Farm, Ockwells Road, MAIDENHEAD, Berks, SL6 3AA
Waste food processor.
Green Choices
Website www.greenchoices.org/food.html
Email info@greenchoices.org
PO Box 31617, London SW2 4FF
Free, independent, not-for-profit web guide to greener living. Like THE WASTEBOOK, it has no products to sell or promote, only ideas and information to help people make greener choices in their day-to-day lives. The section of the website given above has advice on reducing the environmental and social impact of food use and food waste; there is much more on other web pages. (Updated May 2005)
Green Cone Ltd
Freephone 0800 731 2572 (sales/admin) Tel 0207 499 4344 Fax 0207 499 4384
Email headoffice@hogreencone.com or sales@greencone.com Website www.greencone.com
3rd Floor, 58 Grosvenor Street, LONDON W1K 3JB
Contact Ivan Riley
Manufacturer of domestic disposal bin (aerobic digester) designed to take food waste, including meat, bones, fish and dairy products. Fills a need where there is no kerbside food waste collection and where compost is not required by the householder. The unit is dug into a sunny part of the garden and typically takes the waste from a family of four or five. Using solar heat, ventilated from the bottom, and inserted into the ground, it aims to leave a comparatively clean, dry product which may be dug back into the garden. Does not provide a source of compost, as it produces minimal residue. Emptying is only needed every other year . Green Cone claims to reduce the amount of household waste going to landfill by up to 20%. Several councils trial or use Green Cones to help reduce household waste. (Updated Jan 2004)
Greenfinch Ltd
Tel / Fax 01584 877687
Email biogas@greenfinch.co.uk
Website www.greenfinch.co.uk
The Business Park, Coder Road, LUDLOW, Shropshire SY8 1XE
Contact Michael Chesshire
Anaerobic (no air) digestion plant engaged in
18 month pilot project begun in Oct 1999 on a plot only 0.015
hectare. 4.6 tonnes per week of putrescible kitchen waste that would
otherwise go to landfill, including meat and bone, is collected (on the same day
as refuse is collected in black sacks) from 1100 local households, who are
provided with white sacks. This is manually loaded into the plant once a
day. The anaerobic biowaste digester (temperature 35 degrees) is fed hourly.
It conditions this biowaste into a soup, producing biogas which keeps the
process hot and heats a greenhouse. Organic compost/fertiliser is also
produced. As the process is a closed system, it is odour-free, no vermin are
attracted, and no planning problems were experienced, despite it being near a
nursery and a river. It is a sustainable, benign process. If
extended to 10,000 households (needing only 0.1ha) it is claimed that it could become a commercial
venture, with price and capacity vastly more favourable than incineration.
(Updated Oct 2004)
Green Gardener
Tel 01394 420087 Fax 01394 420064
Website www.greengardener.co.uk
Email jon@greengardener.co.uk
1 Whitmore Wood, RENDLESHAM, Suffolk IP12 2US
Supplier, for kitchen waste, of a range of wormeries, worms for the garden, or "wormless wormery"; home composters, compost accelerators and wildlife products. Specialist in ways to attract beneficial insects (bees, butterflies, ladybirds etc), bird food, and biological controls for garden pests. Garden equipment, ph meter, biodegradable pots. Items only available via website, delivery 7-10 days. (Updated Nov 2005)
GROWS (Green Recycling of Organic Waste from Supermarkets)
Tel 01488 657658 Fax 01488 658503
Email ora@efrc.com Website www.growscompost.co.uk
GROWS Project Manager, Organic Resource Agency Ltd, Elm Farm Research Centre,
Hamstead Marshall, nr NEWBURY, Berks RG20 0HR
The UK grocery industry faces a 375,000 tonne a year organic waste problem. In this project, waste fruit, vegetables and flowers are sorted in 30 Waitrose and Sainsbury stores across southern England, then taken by Biffa to Sheepdrove Organic Farm, Lambourn, Berks, for composting. This high-nutrient compost is spread on the land to grow crops to supply supermarkets. The project is managed by the Organic Resource Agency, administered by Elm Farm Research Centre, and funded by Biffaward using landfill tax credits, with third party contributions from the two supermarkets and Sheepdrove. Compost systems being evaluated are open windrows (long piles), covered windrows, and a containerised system. Quality of the waste and compost is monitored, and commercial viability as an alternative to landfill. Results will appear on website. The aim is to develop a 'zero-waste' disposal system for biodegradable waste. (Updated Mar 2001)
HDRA (Henry Doubleday Research Association)
Tel 0247 630 3517 Fax 0247 663 9229
Email enquiry@hdra.org.uk
Website www.hdra.org.uk
Ryton Organic Gardens, COVENTRY, Warwickshire CV8 3LG
London Remade Ltd
Tel
0207 665 1536 Email info@londonremade.com Website www.londonremade.com
1 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, LONDON
WC2A 1HR
Partnership
of business, London Boroughs, regional government, waste industry and not for
profit sector. Aims to "revolutionise
the way the Capital manages its waste through a programme designed to develop
and diversify markets for recycled materials." Aims to stimulate
demand for recycled products, and its
website lists information about recycled products. Offers brokerage
service and environmental policy development support to organisations signing up
to the Mayor's Green Procurement Code. Focusing on organics, glass and paper
Objectives: increase green procurement; divert 250,000 tonnes of waste
from landfill; create 2000 jobs; generate £13m private sector investment.
Claims many successes already. Helped
fund London's first in-vessel Vertical Composting Unit, in Bromley; invested
£243,000 in Cleanaway organics site at Rainham, aiming to increase
diversion of commercial and household gardening, landscaping, kitchen and food
wastes by 100,000 tonnes, develop new markets for peat-free compost products,
and to establish a training and visitor centre. Piloting recycling schemes including mixed glass collection
for flats and increasing recycling by ethnic minorities. Working with Day Group at Charlton on glass reprocessing into
low grade uses such as sharp sand and aggregate, and with Freeform Arts Trust,
Hackney, who are developing tiles and blocks through fusing recycled glass.
Analysing paper waste streams before setting up an eco-industry area for
paper. Provides business support to
small enterprises through loan fund. In
May 2002, with GLA, launched www.capitalwastefacts.com
to help local
authorities meet recycling targets. (Updated
Feb 2005)
Original Organics
Tel 01884 841515 Fax 01884 841717
Website www.originalorganics.co.uk
Emailsales@originalorganics.co.uk
Unit 9, Langlands Business Park, Uffculme, CULLOMPTON, Devon EX15 3DA
Specialises in supply of household vermiculture kits. All
bins use 100% recycled plastic.
Wormeries and worm supplies, watering
cans, buckets, plus Fair Trade items including tea, coffee, chocolate.
Bins come in various
sizes including 'junior'
sizes suitable for small
flats.
Works with and supplies to
local authorities, often involving discount schemes whereby residents can
purchase at discount, for example:
Bedford Borough: Rotel composter 220l £8.97, 300l £11.97; Garden
King (with access hatch) 220l £11.97 (below current online price £24.95 which
is also discount to promote new website), 330l
£14.97. Delivery £5 per bin.
Hackney Borough: original wormery £17.99 (normally £59.90), junior womery £12.99
(usually £34.95); 48 gallon water buts £22.50; and compost
bins Rotel 220l £9.99, 300l £9.99,
Garden King 220l £10.99, 330l £12.99. Delivery included.
Guildford Borough Council: junior
wormery £5 including delivery (1 per household).
Similar schemes also in eg Wales (Cardiff, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, N Wales Council, S Wales Council, Vale of Glamorgan Council); Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin County Council; Kerrier District Council, Cornwall. Prices depend on the scheme - please call Original Organics or councils for information. Small family-run business employing local people. (Updated August 2005)
Provision
Tel 01923 851932 Fax 01923 859511
Institute of Grocery Distribution, Grange Lane, Letchmore Heath, WATFORD WD2
8DQ
Charitable distribution scheme for wholesome but close to 'sell by' date food organised by the grocery trade's professional body. It operates via contracts with individual charities who undertake direct distribution in accordance with rigorous standards set by the institute. Participating member companies include supermaket chains Tesco, Safeway, Sainsburys and Waitrose. Regional distribution centres are established at Bristol, Durham,Livingstone (Scotland) and Manchester. An additional east London centre will open shortly and there are plans for eventual expansion to a national network of 10 centres.
Qualex Ltd
Tel 01249 890317 Fax 01249 892323
Email robert@jpainting.freeserve.co.uk
51 Dauntsey, CHIPPENHAM, Wilts, SN15 4HN
Contact Bob Painting
Specialist in selling and advising on equipment for analysis of agricultural wastes, especially slurries and mucks. Can also analyse decomposed food waste for nutrient content - MP&K (nitrogen, phosphorous & potassium). Equipment is sold to industry including farmers and contractors, EA (eg regarding NVZs - Nitrogen Vulnerable Zones, which now cover wider areas), ADAS, and suppliers of analysis equipment into the muck and slurry industries. One of only a few UK suppliers specialising in these types of equipment. Also looking into future analysis of soil nitrogen, pH, and dirty water. (Updated August 2005)
Recycle Works
Tel 01254 820088 (helpline 9-6 Mon-Fri) Fax 01254 820066
Website www.recycleworks.co.uk
Email sales@recycleworks.co.uk
Unit 1, Bee Mill, Ribchester, LONGRIDGE, Lancs PR3 3XJ
Supply, design, manufacture and development of domestic composting equipment - Compost bins, shredders, worm composting and worm supplies, water butts, kitchen caddies, accessories, books. Supplies trade sector including bulk orders. Also organic waste composting equipment for catering businesses, B&Bs etc. Local authorities, organic gardens, garden centres, mail order catalogues, garden and landscape designers and schools. Useful factsheets on website, online Giveaway service for users to offer unwanted items in good condition free. Online forum on various topics. Established 1995. (Updated Nov 2005)
Response Environmental Services
Tel 01709 816104 Fax 01709 816112
Abbeyfield House, Blyth Road, ROTHERHAM, South Yorks, S66 8HX
Provide innovative cost-effective solutions to waste management problems. Patented 'Novacell' treatment system for bacterial disposal, on a continuous basis, of animal and vegetable oil and grease emissions for the hotel, leisure and food processing industries.
Roberts S
Tel 01277 372496
Green Lane Farm, Pilgrims Lane, Pilgrims Hatch, BRENTWOOD, Essex, CM14 5PR
Waste food processor.
Rout & Sons
Tel 01473 659288
Felixstowe Road, Nacton, IPSWICH, Suffolk IP10
Waste food processor.
Sai-Pac (UK) Ltd
Tel 0208 553 4050 Fax 0208 553 5151
Email info@saipac.com Website www.biosacks.com
, www.saipac.com
Poly House, 88 Park Road, ILFORD, Essex IG1 1SF
Supplies finished polythene bags, sacks and carriers - including
biodegradable sacks for
organic waste - for packaging, household and industrial use. 100% biodegradable,
compostable, cornstarch- based (Din Certco and UK Compost
Association approved) sacks for separating and composting green garden waste
and 'fermentable household and commercial waste'. Made of
blended fully biodegradable materials, utilising 'MATER-BI' technology. No risk of
any trace elements or toxic residue remaining on composting site. Reducing process time and
costs, material biodegrades and disappears naturally over 30-40 days, producing quality compost and clean site. Sacks range from 6.5 to 240
litres,
including 'pre-printed' sacks to encourage pilot schemes and compatibility trials.
Transorganics Ltd
Tel 0113 287 2722
Lotherton Way, Garforth, LEEDS, West Yorks LS25 2JY
Reycling of organic and inorganic industrial wastes and by-products via land spreading and injection. Service covers solid and liquid materials throughout England, Wales and Scotland.
Wellington Worm Composters
Tel 0064 4 389 8601 Fax 0064 4 471 0331
33 Hall Street, WELLINGTON, New Zealand 6002
Various medium scale trial projects for treating supermarket and food service wastes. Aimed at developing low capital cost, commercially viable techniques suitable for food service operations with access to land (such as hostels, rest homes, schools, prisons). The project team are eager to exchange research results with others engaged in similar projects for mutual benefit from experience.
Wiggly Wigglers
Tel 01981 500391 Fax 01981 500108
Email wiggly@wigglywigglers.co.uk
Website www.wigglywigglers.co.uk
Lower Blakemere Farm, Blakemere, HEREFORDSHIRE HR2 9PX
Mail order sales of worm supplies and composting kits for internal / external use. Range of wormeries and composters for kitchen and garden waste. Also range of plants to encourage wildlife. (Updated May 2004)
Wonder Worms
Tel 01422 831112
Pinetree Farms, Hubberton, Sowerby Bridge, HALIFAX, West Yorks, HX6 1NT
Worm supplies for soil improvement and vermiculture consultancy - large scale vermiculture and cottage industry worm breeding.
Worm Digest
Website www.wormdigest.org
American web site, but one of the most informative "worm" sites. Worm forum caters for everyone from absolute beginners to more experienced worm growers and composters - lively debates. (Updated Nov 2005)
Worms Direct
Tel 01245 381933 or 08452 600766
Website www.wormsdirectuk.co.uk
Email sales@wormsdirect.co.uk
advice@wormsdirect.co.uk
Drylands, Ulting, MALDON, Essex CM9 6QS
Mail order supply of worms bred and grown at the farm, and bedding kits, worm bins for composting. Worms are efficient processors and recyclers of organic matter, not only at the domestic level but also in large scale agricultural and industrial situations - consultancy available. FAQ on site, including soil and plant health. Advice on website or by phone. Also worms for fishing and reptiles, and wild bird food. Sent in strong plastic tubs. (Updated Nov 2005)
The Worm Worx
Tel 01590 626697 Mobile 07785
793344 Fax 01590 626252
Email arthurrolf@hotmail.com Website
www.thewormworx.co.uk
Rolf Park Farm Ltd, Thorns Beech Road, BEAULIEU, Hants S042 7XL
Supplier of vermicompost from worm beds, to encourage householders to create their own small scale recycling system for food and garden waste (process described on website). High in phosphates, potash, and urea nitrates. Also high in humus, which - captures and fixes heavy metals so plants don't take up more than they need; helps plants overcome soil pH levels which are too high or low; and stimulates plant growth. Good fertiliser for lawns, pot plants and vegetable gardens. (Updated May 2004)
WyeCycle
Tel 01233 813298 / 813303 Fax 01233 813303
Email info@wyecycle.org
Website www.wyecycle.net , www.wyecycle.org
The Green
House, Unit 2a, Briar Close Industrial Estate, Bramble Lane, WYE,
Kent TN25 5HB
Contact Richard Boden
Community non-profit business. Works on issues surrounding waste and food,
to create employment and protect environments in villages of Wye with Hinxhill and Brook.
One of the longest running kerbside collections of organics in UK, begun
1990. Collects organic
kitchen and garden material weekly, and supplies the compost from this back to
residents. Works with concept of Zero Waste. Aims at reduction of
waste as best option (following UK government's stated hierarchy for action on
waste). Has reduced average household waste going to landfill to less than
260kg/yr ' by working closely within our community and with organisations and networks to find local solutions to reduce and reuse discarded materials,
combined with recycling and composting'. Projects include: plastic
bottles refilled with cleaning products at local shop; vegetable box
delivery with local organic farm; fortnightly Wye Farmers Market; monthly SWAP day for books, toys, bric’a’ brac and
kitchenware; furniture and electrical shop and, responding ahead of
present and future waste legislation, collections for batteries (both domestic and vehicular), light bulbs and electrical equipment.
Looking to reduce their environmental footprint, runs all vehicles on Biodiesel from waste cooking oil; and
equips offices only with reused PCs and furniture. Helps community groups starting similar projects, and campaigns for sustainable waste management at local and national
levels. Website sponsored by SITA Environmental Trust UK Landfill Tax credits, and Kent County Council War on Waste Initiative.
Operates via ' 7 golden rules' re the
organic fraction:
1. Treat kitchen and garden organic material as two separate waste streams, from
collection to processing to use of the end product.
2. Collect all kitchen organic material; meat, dairy produce etc, as well as
peelings and tea bags.
3. Collect kitchen organic material weekly.
4. Do not provide wheeled bins for garden organic material; use sacks.
5. Do not collect garden organic material free of charge.
6. Ban garden organic material from the residual waste stream.
7. Do not collect the residual waste stream weekly.
Many other materials are collected for re-use and recycling, including paper, cans, paint and cookers.
A step-by-step guide to their community composting operation is available, based on 15 years experience with households and businesses' kitchen and garden waste. The guide to replicating WyeCycle's process is followed by in-depth advice on the various legislative challenges and how to beat them; fully illustrated with colour photos. (Send cheque for £12 - £1 per sale goes to Oxfam.)
A major supermarket labels its carrier bags '100% degradable', but they are made from normal, oil-based plastic with a chemical added to break the polythene down into smaller oil-based particles. This will have environmental impact. 100% bio-degradable bags made from gm-free maize starch, are available at cost to Community Compost Network members through WyeCycle. These bags break down in the compost heap into CO2 and water, and comply with European standard EN13432 for biodegradable materials. (Updated Feb 2005)