A new, 26000 tonne per annum in-vessel composting site at Lackford near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, has recently started receiving meat excluded catering waste from kerbside collections within the Suffolk districts of St Edmundsbury District Council and Forest Heath District Council. This DEFRA funded project for Suffolk County Council and Viridor Waste Management involved a new company designing the in-vessel system.

John Jardine from Composting company County Mulch Limited recently relinquished the day today management of the company to former WRG regional director Ed Bastow to concentrate on a new venture Covered Systems Ltd which specialises in the production of concrete buildings and the development of composting sites. John used his 20 years experience of commercial composting to design a simple, versatile but robust in-vessel system.

The pre-processing in the reception building incorporates the same te chnology used on County Mulch ’ s two other composting sites and the in-vessel system is based on Covered System’s Buckenham range of pre-stressed concrete buildings. The foundation for the buildings are built using the unique Alfabloc concrete walling product also manufactured in Suffolk by Poundfield Products Ltd.

The core of the in-vessel technology is the use of reverse aeration of the compost creating a far more consistent and higher temperature profile within the compost, leading to faster turn around of the batches and therefore lower operational costs.

Compliance with the ABPR regulations was paramount in the design of the facility and since conception Covered Systems Ltd has included the State Vetinary Service in the loop of consulties. The SVS have been impressed with the simple layout of the site, especially the flow down the site and through the in-vessel buildings, from the dirty to the clean area of the site. The site minimises the dirty areas which is much easier to manage on a daily basis and therefore leading to further operational savings. The site is currently operating with a temporary approval from the SVS and is capable of complying with either ABPR operational standards.

Viridor’s Operations Director John Cardwell commented ‘ John and his team have designed a first class system. For once it is comforting to see a design that incorporates many years of practical composting experience.’ County Mulch Ltd have also recently signed a ten year contract with Viridor for the operation of the site.

This is the first of what is hoped to be many, design, build and operate contracts, from Covered Systems Ltd and County Mulch Ltd. John Jardine can be contacted info@coveredsystems.co.uk