Executive Summary
The OWSEP project commence operation in January 2002. A first report is presented here and covers the resource and market review, a necessary prerequisite to the main business of the work, facilitating the development of hybrid green waste projects in the Thames Valley. The work was carried out through consultations with local authorities and where data was unavailable national averages or estimations have been used.
Resource investigations have shown that the projected green waste arisings in the Thames Valley over the next ten years will be approximately 2.3 million tonnes. This is inclusive of all green waste; garden and putrescible waste. The number of complete waste audits conducted in the Thames Valley is few and they do not show a trend enabling the estimation of the various components of green waste. The results obtained therefore contain a level of inaccuracy and will be updated as more accurate data is available.
Market investigations show a limited set of options for current use of green waste. Garden waste that has been separated at source is suitable for composting and, subject to quality tests, can be sold as a soil improver. Kitchen waste such as vegetable and fruit peelings is suitable for home composting but is not accepted at the majority of composting facilities due to possible contamination and the Animal By-Product (Amendment) Order (2001). Other putrescible waste such as the dairy and meat portion is not suitable for composting and although it was collected in a trial by Wycombe District Council for a number of years, it is no longer seen as an acceptable feedstock.
Quantities of Garden Waste Composted
in the Thames Valley, UK
At this early stage in the life of the work, progress is seen to be good and lines up with expectations. There are no major budgetary or time deviations to report.
The next steps are to examine the technologies available for energy generation from green waste drawing on best practice in the UK and abroad and to review the potential link with existing initiatives in the Thames Valley.
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Biomass & Bioenergy
: Energy from Waste
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Full Report (English)