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| The Process of Green Waste Recycling |
Currently much of the green waste in the UK is sent to landfill sites.
By committing green waste to a recycling process landfill taxes are avoided and the cost of transportation of this bulky product is significantly reduced.
GP take in raw material from landscapers, local authorities and our own landscape maintenance programms at Blantyre in Lanarkshire. At the end of a careful processs the end product is a highly nutritious compost which can be used for many different purposes.
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| The History: |
Approximately 4 years ago GP recognised the need to improve the utilisation of our green waste produced as a by product in our Plantscape operation.
South Lanarkshire Council were also looking for similar new ideas and we embarked on a trial recycling project at Lanark Racecourse.
The project was a great success and GP now have a dedicated Green Waste Recycling site at Newhouse Mill Road, Blantyre. |
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| The Process: |
Green Waste is delivered to the site at Blantyre, much of it in polythene bags which need to be opened by hand. It is segregated and contaminating rubbish removed.
The next stage is to feed the product through our large 350 Horse Power Shredding Machine, which breaks down the material to small parts.
The Shredding machine is capable of processing 30 tonnes of product per hour and we anticipate that we will process approximately 15,000 tonnes over the next 12 months.
Once the material has been shredded it is then placed in windrows. |
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| Making Compost: |
As our product is living plant material, the shredding machine causes the living cells to be bruised and as a result heat is produced.
The heat that is generated enables the composting process to start and the temperature naturally stabilises at around 60 degrees centigrade. |
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From this point it takes 12 weeks for the composting process to take place.
The temperature of the windrows is monitored on a daily basis. If the temperature is too low or too high the windrow needs to be opened up and the product turned.
This introduces oxygen and allows the product to reach is natural equilibrium and stabilise back to 60 degrees centigrade, so the micro bacteria will again become active.
If the windrows become too dry then water also needs to be added. At the end of the 12 week period the volume of the product will have diminished by about 50%. |
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| Settling & Storage |
The product is then transferred into a storage area in new windrows to settle down.
The next stage is then to pass the product through our large industrial screeder which sizes the product into 3 different grades of product. |
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1. This is the best quality product to be produced. It is naturally high in phosphates, potash and humus with a significant nitrogen content.
This product is used for potting compost or on specialised areas such as playing fields, golf courses and bowling greens.
2. The second grade is excellent for use as a soil conditioner. In clay soils it opens up the soil and allows it to breathe whilst on sandy soil, the high humus content of the product, allows it to retain water and prevent the soil from drying out.
This product will also be used in new build areas.
3. The third grade soil is the least processed. It is coarse in appearance and will be used for top dressings such as bark, regeneration of old brown field sites and the capping of landfill sites. |
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homepage | compost | applications | case studies| links | contact us |
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GP Recycling - The Pleasance, Kirkfieldbank, Lanark ML11 9TG Tel: 01555 663 234 Fax: 01555 663 111 |
