Detailed plans for gold standard high temperature waste treatment plant unveiled: Media 3*-2
The company behind a best-in-class high temperature thermal waste treatment plant has unveiled more information about its plans to fill a critical gap in the sector.
Fornax Environmental Solutions is sharing detailed plans about its renewable energy clinical and hazardous waste facility on Aycliffe Business Park, in County Durham, via a new website.
The 10,500-tonne plant – which will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 700 homes – will utilise the best available techniques and environmental management systems to safely dispose of waste.
Planning permission was granted in 2022, and Fornax hopes to begin commissioning in the first quarter of next year, if the facility is granted an Environmental Permit by the Environment Agency.
During operation, all waste brought to the facility will be assessed first to ensure it cannot be reused or recycled anywhere else before being destroyed in the plant.
Around 70% of the waste treated in the plant will be clinical waste from hospitals, labs, and care homes from across the North East and North Yorkshire. The remaining 30% will be classed as hazardous waste.
Clinical waste treated in the facility will include used needles and blades, scrubs, and surgical materials from clinical theatres.
Hazardous waste will comprise waste medicines, such as cancer drugs, pharmaceutical waste, and some packaging, along with some plastics from discarded electricals, such as toasters and kettles, as well as paints and DIY chemicals, cleaning products from industrial settings, and garden and agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides.
High temperature thermal treatment is the only legal way to deal with this waste, reducing its volume by 90% and capturing any harmful particulates before they reach the atmosphere, while also having the potential to generate clean energy.
There is no other high temperature thermal treatment plant in the North East. Currently, much of the region’s clinical and hazardous waste is dealt with by aging incinerators – often hundreds of miles away from source.
“This part of the sector has seen years of underinvestment in the UK, and high temperature thermal treatment plants, such as this, are desperately required,” said Ian Jones, Fornax Chief Executive Officer.
“It is accepted that more technologically advanced facilities, like this one, are the safest way to meet regional needs and minimise the transportation of clinical and hazardous waste. It also meets the UK Government’s aims on energy efficiency and resilience, aligning us with the National Infrastructure Strategy.
“Fornax will be using state-of-the art technology, aiming to set a new gold standard in how the UK manages this waste safely and sustainably. We are committed to delivering cleaner, greener and safer solutions for high temperature thermal treatment.”
The plant has been designed with the best available proven techniques from Europe and will be operated and monitored to the highest standards, using best in class emissions monitoring equipment, abatement methodologies, and filtration to ensure it complies with strict permit requirements.
Fornax is currently deploying sophisticated air monitoring equipment around the site to set a baseline of data, so it can provide long-term factual assurances to the public regarding emissions and particulates.
Once operational, the plant will be strictly controlled. It will be monitored round the clock by staff onsite and tightly regulated by the Environment Agency.
Waste will arrive at the site already segregated, fully documented, and securely contained.
All hazardous waste brought to the site will be contained within sealed airtight containers, carried by specialist licensed waste vehicles. Waste will only be stored within the confines of the treatment building.
Ian added: “We are committed to being a good neighbour and will work with the community to open dialogue and build a trusting, two-way relationship.
“The health and safety of our staff and the wider community is our priority. We will ensure that we operate the plant within the emission limits set in law by the EU and UK, and that we rigorously maintain the facility to guarantee efficiency.”
The new £40m Fornax North East plant – currently being kitted out with the latest equipment – has already supported more than 120 jobs in construction and will create a further 40 full-time skilled, quality roles when operational, along with training and research opportunities.
Fornax will begin recruiting towards the end of year and has given an undertaking that job opportunities will be promoted locally, and that SMEs and suppliers from the area will be used wherever possible.
The vast majority of the waste will come from clinical and industrial settings across the North East and North Yorkshire. The 6MW of heat generated during the process will be distributed back into operating the plant and to organisations within a mile of the site who wish to use the heat off-take.
Fornax also has plans to build similar facilities in other parts of the country as it looks to modernise and future-proof the UK’s ability to safely treat this kind of waste.
“We chose this site on the business park because it offered everything that we needed for the facility, is well located in the North East, has close links to the major road network, and is in close proximity to the local skilled workforce,” added Ian.
“We look forward to working with the community in the months ahead as we share more information about the facility and await the outcome of our permit application from the Environment Agency.”
For more information about Fornax Environmental Solutions and the North East facility, go to www.fornax.co.uk – Photo: Aerial view of the Fornax site, looking north across Aycliffe Business Park.