Mechanical Technology March 2016

⎪ Sustainable energy and energy management ⎪

Firstever refuse-derived fuel plant in SA

Waste management specialist, Interwaste, has launched South Africa’s first refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant at its Germiston depot. MechTech attends the launch and reports.

I nterwaste – a leading local waste management business – has an- nounced the launch of South Africa’s first refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant. The plant aims at reducing waste to landfill and pioneering general, industrial and municipal waste to alternative fuels, ensuring less reliance on South Africa’s vital resources – resources that are car- bon intensive. The company expects to see 36 t/a of waste converted to alter- native fuel for use in the South African manufacturing sector. “In line with global best practice, Interwaste continually invests in innova- tive solutions that have the most envi- ronmentally sound waste management opportunity at its core – solutions that make us market leaders and place us in a favourable position within the competi- tive waste management environment,” says Allan Willcocks, CEO at Interwaste. “It is with this in mind, and with a strong focus on aiding our customers to reduce operational expenses, while acting re- sponsibly towards the environment, that we commissioned the RDF plant, which is another market first since the business opened 25 years ago.” The plant, which was imported in 2015, is located in a facility built by Interwaste at the company’s Germiston depot. It is currently producing a solid re- covered fuel to European specified stan- dards, which is equivalent to A-Grade coal. “Through the commissioning of such

solutions, companies are able to lessen their reliance on fossil fuels that have a high environmental impact, including acid mine drainage and reject coal waste and dust, for example. By using RDF, not only are businesses able to drastically improve their emissions profile but they are able to pay back their investment within five years, because the fuel is substantially more economical,” contin- ues Willcocks. Prior to the implementation of the lo- cal plant, Interwaste underwent stringent environmental compliance procedures to ensure all due process was followed and that the facility would operate with a val- id licence and the correct environmental authority approvals – which are critical in ensuring sound business practices. The company has also pioneered the production of alternative fuels within the hazardous waste environment, ensuring that hazardous waste can be diverted from landfill, where such waste is not only expensive to landfill but toxic to the environment if not managed correctly. “Locally, the playing fields have changed. The implementation of new and pending legislation is forcing com- panies to move to 21 st century solutions, solutions that offer real opportunity for environmental preservation. From an Interwaste perspective, the provision of these fuels has not only opened up in excess of 100 jobs within the sector, but has created a solid platform from which to protect the environment. This is a criti-

Mike Nicholls, Interwaste’s technical services director.

cal constitutional imperative in line with changing legislation,” states Willcocks. “However, we are not in this alone. It is up to corporate South Africa to under- stand the benefits of such solutions to their bottom line and to the environment, in order for us to make the change we want to see. We are positive about the impact of such market innovation and look forward to very exciting times with regards to RDF,” says Willcocks. Presenting the technology at a launch event earlier this year, Mike Nicholls, Interwaste’s technical services director, says that prior to establishing the local system, best practices in Europe were visited and evaluated. RDF, according to Nicholls, is dry in- dustrial waste, which Interwaste sources locally by onsite sorting of suitable waste from targeted industries such as

A view of the RDF processing plant for ‘fluff’. Non-recyclable plastic waste is loaded onto a feeding platform before being passed through a primary and then a secondary shredder. The fluff is then bailed ready for transportation to a power station, kiln or industrial burner.

20

Mechanical Technology — March 2016