News: Sterecycle celebrates double success

Sterecycle is celebrating the successful operation of its advanced autoclaving facility in Rotherham for the last two years.

Sterecycle commenced operations at its 100,000 tonnes per annum capacity autoclave plant at Templeborough in June 2008 and since then has been processing "black bag" municipal waste from several local authorities, including the Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham Waste Partnership, under their Interim Waste Contract.

The company also recycles local commercial and industrial waste from organisations such as Toyota Manufacturing UK and Doncaster's main shopping centre, Lakeside Village.

To date, nearly 130,000 tonnes of waste have been treated through the company's autoclave vessels, with consistently over 60% of this being diverted from landfill. The company has recently commenced construction and improvements work at the site to increase the capacity of the plant to 200,000 tonnes per annum, with a landfill diversion target in excess of 70%.

Sterecycle Chief Executive Officer, Tom Shields, said: "Our two year operational anniversary is a clear sign that the Sterecycle process is now an established and proven technology for the treatment of municipal solid waste.

"With rising levels of landfill tax, alternative waste treatment options are becoming increasingly viable. We have now demonstrated that autoclaving is robust and through our operations at Rotherham, we have gained a considerable amount of understanding and processing experience which we will use to improve the facility through the expansion works, and for the development of future Sterecycle plants."

In February Sterecycle raised £10 million to kick‐start a multi‐year investment programme in recycling plants based on its environmentally‐friendly autoclave technology.

Sterecycle will invest part of the funds to expand the capacity of its Rotherham plant. By late 2010 capacity is expected to double from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes per annum.

Sterecycle is also celebrating being awarded the internationally recognised standards BS EN ISO 9001 (quality management system); ISO 14001 (environmental management system); and OHSAS 18001 (health and safety management system) for its autoclaving operations at the Rotherham facility.

Paul Greenwell, Sterecycle's Operations Director, said: "Sterecycle is proud to have been awarded these international accreditations. We are committed to providing a healthy and safe working environment for all of our employees and others affected by our activities; including customers, visitors and the general public.

"Our commitment to the environment and to improving the quality of our customer service is demonstrated in this success. It demonstrates very clearly to all of our stakeholders that we are committed to excellence in all that we do."

Sterecycle website

Images: Sterecycle