Middleton Baler Processing RDF for Island Waste on Guernsey
Guernsey based waste and recycling firm, Island Waste, has become the first on the Channel Island to process and ship RDF off island, following the installation of a new twin ram baler and conveyor solution from Middleton Engineering. The Glastonbury, UK based manufacturer explained that the new baler incorporates a specially developed dual tying head, with both steel wire and plastic strapping options, will increase capacity and throughput at the Island Waste’s Material Recycling Facility (MRF) in St Andrews, and for the first time enable the remaining 20% of material to be baled as RDF With the only landfill site at Mont Cuet expected to close in 18 months, baling and exporting the island's waste for treatment elsewhere is now key to the Guernsey’s waste strategy. Island Waste currently diverts over 12,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year, achieving an 80% recovery rate for recyclables. Middleton added that the baled RDF must be tied using plastic strapping to satisfy the requirements of downstream processors. To achieve this the manufacturer said that a dual tying head enables rapid switching from one waste stream to another, with the additional advantage that plastic strapping is some 40% cheaper than steel wire and more environmentally friendly. Dan Hubert, managing director at Island Waste explained that the new baler gives the company the flexibility to bale RDF for and take advantage of plastic strapping, which is significantly cheaper than steel wire. He added that switching waste streams is also quick with near zero downtime. According to Middleton Engineering its ME80F twin ram baler is able to produce extremely dense and uniform bales optimised for transportation and with ideal compaction for RDF. Destined for Dutch waste to energy plants, the bales are first wrapped for improved storage and handling and then shipped utilising empty capacity on curtain-sided trailers returning to the UK mainland. Middleton Engineering has designed, manufactured and installed a complete solution for Island Waste, with two feed conveyors for the baler including a bunker discharge conveyor to overcome space limitations. The baler joins an existing Middleton ME70 semi-automatic baler in use since 2007. “Three months in the machine is spot on. Delivery to the island, installation and commissioning all went extremely well and to agreed timeframes,” Hubert added. Read More UK Waste Industry Rises to C+ Grade in Institution of Civil Engineers Report The UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has awarded the waste industry a grade of C+ in its latest State of the Nation Infrastructure report – an improvement over the C grade awarded in 2010. However, it called for an Office for Resource Management should be established in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). 10 Innovative Waste Reduction Projects Backed by Waste Prevention Fund The UK government’s Innovation in Waste Prevention (IWP) Fund, managed by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), has awarded funding to 10 innovative waste prevention projects that will help move communities away from a throw away culture. Waste & Recycling Bodies United in Guidance to Political Parties Ahead of Election Some of the UK’s most influential representative trade bodies for the waste, resource and recycling industry have written to the main political parties in England summarising the key policy proposals that they would like to see implemented following the May 2015 general election.