Composting

The GBN established an industrial-scale composting project on the site of Outokumpu Stainless Ltd in Sheffield . The project processed in excess of 25,000 tonnes a year. in a former narrow strip mill of some 100,000 square feet donated by Outokumpu. The entire building was converted into an ‘in-vessel' composting system using negative pressure and a bio-filtration system.

Part of the composting area at GBN (South Yorkshire) Ltd

Organic materials from Outokumpu Stainless Ltd and municipal waste from the surrounding areas were composted into a high grade compost, for use as a growing medium at another major Green Business Network project, the ABLE project at Caldervale. The low grade compost was used initially for on-site remediation at Outokumpu Stainless Ltd, but the majority was used by Yorkshire Water plc.

Control room and machinery at GBN (South Yorkshire) Ltd

Approximately 25,000 tonnes per annum of compostable waste were diverted from landfill. In addition, the ‘closed-loop' recycling system, whereby organic materials from Outokumpu were composted and then used for on-site remediation at Outokumpu, produced great savings in the transportation of waste.

Composted material at GBN (South Yorkshire) Ltd

Composting reduces the CO2 emissions caused by the decay of waste within landfill sites. We calculate savings of approximately 10,000 tonnes per annum.