7 October 2009

Costain's £397million Greater Manchester Waste contract has reached a significant milestone, with the completion of the first in-vessel composting plant.

The Waithlands plant in Rochdale - currently undergoing final commissioning tests - is now processing up to 480 tonnes of green waste and food waste collected from households every week. Over a period of 14 days it turns the waste into pasteurised compost to be used as soil improver.

The composting plant - the first of four planned - will be officially opened in November. The opening will coincide with the fifth Annual Waste Management Conference, this year hosted by the Greater Manchester Waste Delivery Authority.

Five of the 43 facilities planned - two transfer loading stations and three household waste recycling centres - have already been handed over to the client, Viridor Laing (Greater Manchester) Limited.

Meanwhile other elements of the contract continue at a pace with construction activities progressing on 14 sites.  On the main technology sites, preparations are being made for the arrival this year of some of the primary process components. These include the 'Pulper' units from Germany for the Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plants, and key parts for the Materials Recycling Facility in south Manchester, which are presently being shipped from San Diego, California.

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