SEBC go top

Recently released recycling and composting figures by the Government for the year 2004/5, show that Suffolk Local Authority St Edmundsbury Borough Council (SEBC) has achieved the top spot with a recycling rate of 50.6% and was the only Local Authority to recycle over half of its waste arisings. The neighbouring Authority Forest Heath District council cam e second with 48%.

Covered Systems Ltd have assisted this process by supplying the in –vessel composting technology that is used to compost SEBC’s and FHDCs kerbside collected meat-excluded catering waste at Lackford in Suffolk. Since the DEFRA funded facility was opened at the end of March 2005 the facility has processed over 20 000 tonnes of material in the first 9 months. Not bad considering the in- vessel system construction started on the 7th February 2005.

The facility was developed by Covered Systems Managing Director John Jardine, who as founder and former Managing Director of County Mulch Ltd, the Suffolk based composting company, has gained over 20 years practical experience of commercial composting. The in vessel technology was designed to be simple, robust and low in terms of capital and operating costs.

Covered Systems have several new sites in planning around the country and expect to have a number of sites operational over the next two years.

Sandra Pell the Head of Waste Management at St Edmundsbury, who was herself singled out for praise by the Government commented “This new facility ensures that the material collected from across the two Local Authorities is processed to the required standards of the Animal By Product Regulations and will go a long way in assisting Suffolk to meet the LATS targets for the diversion of biodegradable waste from landfill. The funding from Defra has been key to this success.”