Rubbish idea could revolutionise waste
Jun 4 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal
TWO brothers have raised £50m to launch what they hope will become one of the country’s biggest recycling companies and create hundreds of jobs.
William and Michael Thompson left their family building demolition firm Thompsons of Prudhoe in 2002 to launch waste recycling business Graphite.
And now work has finally begun on their biggest project, a massive waste recycling plant on the banks of the River Tyne, with 70 staff and the potential to create many more jobs and propel the region to forefront of the household waste recycling industry.
They are creating the biggest steam autoclave recycling plant in the world with the capacity to handle waste from around 500,000 households.
They believe the Derwenthaugh EcoParc and recycling centre could be the first of many such plants they eventually build across the across the UK and Europe.
And the brothers have secured the financial backing of Lehman Brothers, one of the country’s leading private equity firms, and two major banks; Allied Irish Bank and Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank to raise the £50m needed for their huge project.
Director William Thompson said: “There is a huge market for this facility. Local councils will soon be paying £48 per tonne in landfill taxes. We believe this could be a fantastically successful venture. The region could support a further three of these plants and there is scope for expansion across the UK and into Europe. Despite the credit crisis we have been able to raise a substantial amount of money.”
The former Conservative MP, Environment Secretary and Education Secretary Kenneth Baker, has been appointed Graphite Resources non-executive chairman.
Lord Baker said: “The Thompson brothers are pioneers and the North East should be proud of leading the way to a more eco-friendly future. Steam autoclaving is a sustainable way to treat wastes while maximising resource recovery and value. Gateshead will lead Britain in waste treatment.”
When the Derwenthaugh EcoParc and its recycling plant opens on land close to Scotswood Bridge late next year it will be one of the first of its type in the UK.
Michael Thompson, chief executive, said: “The public are becoming increasingly aware of the need to use waste, it is much too valuable a resource to put into landfill or incinerate. We are entering the carbon economy and this project provides the UK with a head start which councils and industry need to take advantage of.”
The plant will reduce the tonnage of waste sent to landfill, without releasing the carbon emissions associated with incineration.
It will be able to recycle black bag solid waste together with a range of commercial and industrial wastes.
Richard Mair, development director, said: “It has the potential to revolutionise the way we think of waste.
“Instead of being a burden, it will be seen as a resource. The announcement of our project today, further endorses autoclaving technology in the UK.”
HOW DOES THE PLANT WORK?
Steam autoclaving uses steam to sterilize waste enclosed vessels about the size of a fuel tanker.
The technology is used in hospitals and surgeries, to sterilise equipment.
The autoclave is capable of treating 320,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste, 60,000 tonnes of light waste (kerbside, commercial and industrial) and 20,000 tonnes of green and skip waste per annum.
All foodstuffs, paper and organic 'cellulose' materials become fibrous. Plastic is reduced in volume. Tin cans, glass, aerosols and aluminium are de-lacquered.
The remaining sterilised biomass fibre known as CellMatt® can be used in a number of ways.
