Environmental benefits of new waste management facilities in Manchester, UK

Abstract

In 2002, the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority drew up a long term strategy for improving recycling rates, providing waste processing and achieving resource and energy recovery. This strategy recognises the imperative to reduce disposal of biodegradable waste to landfill and thereby to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon dioxide footprint arising from the conventional disposal of municipal waste. To implement the strategy, a £3·8 billion, 25-year private finance initiative contract was developed and awarded in April 2009 for the construction and operation of waste disposal facilities to process domestic refuse arising from nine of the ten boroughs within Greater Manchester. The new facilities include 25 household waste recycling centres, seven transfer loading stations, four in-vessel composting plants, a materials recovery facility and five mechanical biological treatment plants. This paper describes environmental benefits arising from the scheme including increased recycling rates, optimisation of carbon impact from transportation, energy from waste (by way of combined heat and power from generating and utilising biogas arising from on-site anaerobic digestion facilities), nutrient capture and recycling (through British Standard PAS100 and Animal By-product Regulations compliant composting) and improved environmental performance (including odour control) of the upgraded facilities.