From grub to Grid (From Bridgwater Mercury)

From grub to Grid

5:02pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007

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FOOD waste could power homes via a futuristic state-of-the-art recycling plant planned near Bridgwater to be built as early as 2009.

Viridor Waste Management wants to house the very latest processing facility at Walpole against a background of successful kerbside collection in Somerset.

The plant will be based on the principle of anaerobic digestion, which is when organic material is put through a speeded up composting process to produce a gas which can be harnessed to provide power.

Viridor's Dan Cooke said: "These proposals look to employ the latest technology and it could be the first such facility used for this purpose in the West Country.

"It is all part of the process of diverting waste away from landfill.

"The plant should be capable of handling about 45,000 tonnes of food waste each year."

Somerset County Council had already granted planning permission for new waste treatment facilities at Walpole, but Viridor says it wants to amend them to concentrate on the digestion plant.

"We've looked at our wider plans to see if they give the best solution and greatest savings to the people of Somerset," said Mr Cooke.

"Now we've decided that the best option would be to develop the anaerobic digestion plant first, but just for food waste.

"This will allow for food waste collections to be extended to the whole county and greater participation in the areas already served."

Viridor has already held meetings with the Walpole local liaison group to explain its plans and will be having further gatherings to cover the revised proposal.

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