Construction has begun on a new £9 million biomass plant in Bedfordshire which could significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.
The new facility, set in a disused Ministry of Defence research and development building in Thurleigh, could divert around 30,000 tonnes of waste from the landfill each year.
It could also generate as much as 2.6MW of renewable energy once it is fully operational in mid-2011.
Several firms are involved in the venture, including recycling company Growing Beds, renewable energy businesses and Bioflame Ventus Venture Capital Trust Funds, as well as waste management provider B&W Waste Management Systems.
Yorkshire-based organisation Bioflame will provide the combustion technology to the facility, while Growing Beds will be able to source the wood after securing a green waste handling contract with Bedfordshire Council.
The Cooperative Bank provided a loan to part-fund the development.
Typical Guttridge equipment used in the biomass industry includes; conveyors – screw conveyors – chain conveyors – belt conveyors
