Composting and Plastics Recycling Project
The composting and plastic recycling project developed by the Green Business Network closed down after the decision by Outokumpu to close the majority of their site in Sheffield. Unfortunately this includes the 100,000 square foot building that had been used for the composting and plastics operation at GBN (South Yorkshire) Ltd. The sustainable project comprised a composting and plastics recycling project that put the GBN at the forefront of environmental technology development. The project was made possible through funding from Yorkshire Forward, Biffaward and ERDF funding.
A case study of the project can be downloaded here, please see GBN South Yorkshire Case Study.pdf
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| The control room in the new facility and one of the two mixer / shredders |
The composting operation processed approximately 35,000 tonnes of waste per year using waste material from Outokumpu Stainless Ltd., wool scouring sludge from the Yorkshire textile industry and compostable waste from the Sheffield area. The compost was used both by Outokumpu Stainless Ltd for landfill cover on their site, with the majority used by Yorkshire Water.
The Plastics Recycling operation was funded by DEFRA’s LTCS Legacy Fund. It was a closed loop system taking waste plastic from the Outokumpu site, converting this waste into profiles, and making these profiles into pallets and coil carriers for use by Outokumpu. These replaced the wooden ones that were used by Outokumpu which only lasted for one delivery. Recycled plastic garden furniture embellished with stainless steel, as well as the Intruplas range of products, was also produced.

