18 million tonnes of municipal waste are landfilled every year in the UK. The EU Landfill Directive requires member states to dramatically reduce the amount of waste that is landfilled or face heavy fines. The UK government is committed to reducing landfill and increasing recycling, evidenced by the continuing increases in Landfill Tax. Landfill Tax has increased from £12 per tonne in 2003 to £32 per tonne in 2008 and will reach £48 per tonne by 2010. Further, the UK government’s introduction of the Landfill Allowance Scheme on 1st April 2005 has placed even greater financial pressure on councils to secure waste treatment technology services. For every tonne of organic waste (around 60% of the waste stream) that a council sends to landfill in excess of its annual landfill allowance, it must pay an additional penalty of £150 per tonne (£200 per tonne in Wales), in addition to the cost of landfill and the Landfill Tax.

The Solution

The sterecycle® system is capable of recycling and recovering up to 80% of domestic waste with a sterile and environmentally-friendly process. The system is cleaner, safer, more cost effective and more efficient than other technologies.

• No incineration
• No smell or eyesore – the system is enclosed in a warehouse type building
• Recycling is dramatically increased, landfilling only 20 % non-recyclable
residue
• Plastics recycled - 1 tonne of plastics recycled means 1.5 tonnes of carbon
saved
• Flexible system – residual domestic waste is inputted directly into the process
without pre-sorting
• Valuable recyclables (metals, plastics, glass)
• High quality Biomass fibre (sterefibre®)
• Sterilising process - removes health hazards associated with landfill and
standard Mechanical Recycling Facilities
• Resource efficient - Sterecycle's patented indirectly heated autoclaving
system is more energy and water efficient than simple steam injection –
beneficial carbon footprint and greater process control.
• Cost Effective - able to offer attractive gate fees