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Composting in Kilmarnock
15/05/2009
A new £2.6m composting facility has been officially opened in Kilmarnock today.
The Vertical Composting Unit, from Billy Bowie Special Projects Ltd., will process organic commercial and industrial biowaste and will divert approximately 10,000 tonnes each year from landfill using technology from New Zealand.
Two buildings have been erected on site, one to receive and treat the waste and the other to mature the compost. The computer controlled system allows various waste streams to be accepted, including food waste, animal by-products waste, and green waste, to be converted into compost.
Officially opening the site, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"I am very encouraged to see for myself the work being done by Billy Bowie in commissioning this ground breaking facility. It is good to hear that this plant will provide a service to both commercial and industrial biowaste producers and, in line with the Scottish Government's Zero Waste policy, it will significantly reduce the amount of methane producing biowaste going to landfill.
"It is particularly worthy of note that at this time of economic uncertainty, Billy Bowie has commited to this level of investment in Scotland. It is initiatives such as this that will help the country become a zero waste society and I commend Billy Bowie's efforts."
Food waste accounts for approximately 18 per cent of Scotland's household waste. As a wholly biodegradable material, it has an important part to play in helping Scotland meet EC Landfill Directive targets.
Approximately 34,000 households are participating in Food Waste Collection Trials. To date some 730 tonnes of food waste has been collected (in the food waste collection only trial) and 970 tonnes in the combined food and garden waste trial.