New hi-tech waste plant will help to cut rubbish being sent to landfill
WILLSHEE’S Waste & Recycling has opened a new £10 million state-ofthe-art recycling centre at Swadlincote, which the firm says is the most advanced in the region.
Managing director Dean Willshee said technology at the plant will reduce rubbish sent to landfill and help the environment.
He said: “Opening this new site is a huge step forward for our company in terms of technology, efficiency, and also the environment.
“This state-of-the-art equipment produces over a third more material that can be reused, versus other plant – extracting wood, soil, plastic, metal and rubble from general waste.
“With a process involving three stages of shredding and a sophisticated system of screening, air separation, magnets, and nearinfrared technology, we are able to extract every last piece of recyclable material.
“What is left, is made into solid recovered fuel (SRF) which is then used by manufacturers – cement works will use SRF in their kilns, for example.
“The other great thing about SRF is that it is already carbon offset – creating more environmentallyfriendly energy from waste.”
Mr Willshee said the new depot will give its customers a fully traceable guarantee of zero waste to landfill with the added reassurance that the optimum level of environmentally beneficial measures are in place.
The Swadlincote facility is powered by solar panels, with excess power being sold back to the national grid.
South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler said: “I was delighted to support Willshee’s with their bid to open up this state-of-the-art commercial collection and recycling centre. It was a perfect venue, re-purposing an old railhead.
“Everyone is so alive to the need to recycle nowadays and this is as important for businesses as it is for our homes. Now that it has opened I wish them every success with this venture.”