Waste innovator gets £100,000

A LANCASHIRE recycling business has secured a £100,000 research and development grant to improve the energy efficiency of waste plants.

BSA Recycling, of Poulton-le-Fylde, Blackpool, is working on a system that will allow plants to run on energy generated from the waste they handle.

The North West Regional Develoment Agency (NWDA), which is backing the project, said the scheme would allow waste transfer stations to become self sufficient.

The process would involve the pyrolysis – decomposition of a condensed substances by heating – and gasification into carbon monoxide and hydrogen of waste.

The project will investigate the technical risks and commercial viability of the new approach, as well as innovative ideas for improving existing pyrolysis and gasification equipment.

Mark Hughes, executive director of economic development at the NWDA said: “BSA Recycling has a proven track record of producing innovative products that are commercially successful within their sector.

“With a grant for research and development from the NWDA, it will be able to develop a new process that will provide a small scale, sustainable and environmentally viable method of dealing with waste products. Not only will the project ensure less waste is going to landfill, it will provide an alternative energy source for small scale operations.”