Mechanical Biological Treatment
Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) is a generic name for a range of processes. In its simplest form waste is mechanically sorted and prepared ready to then undergo Aerobic Composting as the biological treatment phase in an enclosed building or enclosed vessels, which stabilizes the waste, reduces moisture and carbon, and produces recyclate, a Compost Like Output (CLO) and Waste Derived Fuel (WDF).
In its desire to stimulate investment in waste infrastructure, and underpin the diversion of BMW waste from Landfill, the Government supported/subsidized a range of treatment technologies on a number of sites that were procured by Waste Disposal Authorities needing this infrastructure through a dedicated PFI or PPP contract. The PFI scheme has now ceased after DEFRA assessed [1] that the BMW targets could be met with the infrastructure funded to that date, with MBT type projects prevalent in the funding process. Several contracts are currently being considered by Waste Disposal Authorities for movement out of PFI and out of MBT after consideration of the cost benefit of continuing with the contract in the light of economic challenges, and several have already been removed/terminated (i.e. Lancashire) or have had closed with major restructure (i.e. Greater Manchester).
The table below is an extract from DEFRA data [2] summarizing the residual waste projects that are/were PFI and PPP projects focused on MBT solutions (noting in some cases the listing is in fact for mechanical sorting alone, with little or no biological treatment phase):
| Location | Project/Site | Classification | Status | Capacity [3] (ktpa) | Plant Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avonmouth | New Earth Solutions | PPP | Uncertain [4] | 372 | MBT | Bought out of administration by PandaGreen,currently services West of England, contracts lost to Suez and Viridor from March 2020 |
| Birmingham | Landor Street | PPP | Mothballed[5] | 165 | MBT | Suez facility producing SRF moved to their site in Rugby, to supply Cemex cement kiln in Rugby |
| Cambridgeshire | Waterbeach | PFI | Operational[6] | 200 | MBT | Amey Cespa site with variable performance reported, planning being pursued for new EfW on the site |
| Cumbria | Hespin Wood | PPP | Mothballed[5] | 66 | MBT | Renewi 25 year contract from 2009 for Cumbria reported as under financial difficulty [7] |
| Cumbria | Barrow-in-Furness | PPP | Mothballed | 50 | MBT | Renewi 25 year contract from 2009 for Cumbria reported as under financial difficulty |
| ELWA 1 | Frog Island | PFI | Operational | 180 | MBT | Renewi site servicing ELWA, recently reported financial difficulty |
| ELWA 2 | Jenkins Lane | PFI | Operational | 180 | MBT | Renewi site servicing ELWA, recently reported financial difficulty |
| Essex | Courtauld Road | PFI | Operational[6] | 417 | MBT | Developed and operated by partners Urbaser Balfour Beatty servicing Essex County Council and Southend, reported operational difficulties |
| Greater Manchester | Longley Lane | PFI | Operational | 110 | MBT | Viridor Laing consortium PFI contract with GMWA terminated 2017, now Suez from June 2019 for 7 years |
| Greater Manchester | N. Manchester | PFI | Operational | 65 | MBT | Viridor Laing consortium PFI contract with GMWA terminated 2017, now Suez from June 2019 for 7 years |
| Greater Manchester | Oldham | PFI | Operational | 99 | MBT | Viridor Laing consortium PFI contract with GMWA terminated 2017, now Suez from June 2019 for 7 years |
| Greater Manchester | Salford | PFI | Operational | 73 | MBT | Viridor Laing consortium PFI contract with GMWA terminated 2017, now Suez from June 2019 for 7 years |
| Greater Manchester | Stockport | PFI | Operational | 92 | MBT | Viridor Laing consortium PFI contract with GMWA terminated 2017, now Suez from June 2019 for 7 years |
| Isle of Wight | Isle of Wight WM Project | PPP | Operational | 80 | MBT | Development between Amey and Isle of Wight Council |
| Leicstershire | Mowmacre Hill | PFI | Operational | 120 | MBT[8] | Integrated contract delivered by Biffa for Leicester City Council for 25 years from 2002 |
| Leicstershire | Cotesbach | PPP | Operational | 50 | MBT | Operational plant by New Earth Solutions bought out of administration by PandaGreen,currently services Leicestershire County Council |
| L.B. Southwark | Old Kent Road | PFI | Operational | 100 | MBT[9] | Suez integrated facility servicing Southwark |
| Newcastle | Byker/Ellington | PPP | Operational | 187 | MBT | Suez facility serving primarily Newcastle |
| North Somerset | BOOMECO Avonmouth | PPP | Operational | 50 | MBT | Boomecho bought by Veolia out of administration, serviced North Somerset Council but based in Avonmouth Docks, RDF export focused |
| Rugby | Malpass Farm | PPP | Operational | 200 | MBT | Suez facility producing SRF, to supply Cemex cement kiln in Rugby, also receiving tonnage previously designated to Birmingham facility |
| South Yorkshire | Bolton Road, Manvers | PFI | Operational | 286 | MBT | Renewi partnership with SSE delivering integrated MBT and AD facility to Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Waste Partnership to 2040 |
| Swindon | Chaney Manor | PPP | Operational | 48 | MBT[10] | Swindon Commercial Services facility for Swindon |
| Wakefield | South Kirby | PFI | Operational | 146 | MBT | Renewi integrated contract for Wakefield City Council |
| West Sussex | Brookhurst Wood | PPP | In Construction | 327 | MBT | Biffa facility delivered for West Sussex |
| Whites Pit, Poole | Canford | PPP | Operational | 50 | MBT | Operational plant by New Earth Solutions bought out of administration by PandaGreen,currently primarily services Bournemouth |
| Wiltshire | Northacre Farm | PPP | Operational | 60 | MBT | Hills site at Westbury servicing Wiltshire Council |
References
- ↑ DEFRA Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme
- ↑ DEFRA Residual Waste Treatment Infrastructure Project List dated 31st December 2016 but noted as last updated 29th March 2019 (edited with press updates)
- ↑ The capacity has been reproduced from the DEFRA data, but has not been verified in this table, and in some cases is known not to be up to date
- ↑ Future of site uncertain, still operational to contract handover, but site up for sale as of Jan 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 In original data site was listed as Operational this has been changed to Mothballed.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 In original data site was listed as In Construction this has been changed to Operational.
- ↑ Letsrecycle article re: Carlisle EfW and context of current PPP contract
- ↑ The technology utilized under the contract is the only one in the UK and is known as a 'Ball Mill'
- ↑ Integrated site includes a Gasification facility which is in extended commissioning
- ↑ The technology is better described as mechanical sorting or a Dirty MRF with no biological treatment as part of the process