Planning permission granted for PDM Cheshire anaerobic digestion plant

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PDM Group has been given planning consent to build a 4MW anaerobic digestion facility on its existing rendering and renewable energy site at Widnes in Cheshire.

Construction is due to begin next month with completion expected in late 2013.

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The facility will have the capacity to handle 90,000 tonnes of commercial and domestic food waste which will generate enough power for 8,000 homes. Heat will be used by the Granox rendering operation and by adjacent businesses. The digestate will be used by local farmers.

The £20 million plant will have twice the capacity of PDM’s first ReFood AD plant that was built at its Doncaster headquarters in 2011.

PDM commercial director Philip Simpson said: “We’re delighted to have received permission to build the new facility on our Widnes site. While the site already operates rendering and biomass to energy plants, the AD plant will offer another sustainable solution to our portfolio in the north west.

“This development is the latest in our long-standing commitment to developing the Widnes site to create a unique range of recycling and renewable energy services at a single location.

“This area is an important hub in terms of food manufacture and retail distribution, so it’s the ideal place to offer such treatments for the 10 million plus tonnes of food waste the UK generates.

“Demand for food waste recycling solutions is growing among businesses at every stage of the food chain. Our vision for ReFood is to develop a network of plants, providing food waste collection and recycling services to a 50-mile radius of the plant.

“It is the only service of its kind in the UK, offering customers reliable and cost-effective collections, sanitised bins and safe, secure and sustainable processing.”