Summer launch hope for food waste plant

A NEW plant to convert food waste into energy is on course to open this summer.

The £12m anaerobic digestion facility at Doncaster will be capable of recycling 45,000 tonnes of waste each year, producing 2.8Mw of renewable energy in the process, said developers.

It is being built by industry experts for Prosper De Mulder, the pet food processing and distribution specialist.

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Paul Morris, operations director, said: “The ReFood plant is really starting to take shape and is on schedule to be completed and operational this summer.

“We’re now entering some of the more exciting phases, which will see the structure of the plant finalised, ready for the internal equipment to be added.

“We already have a number of local businesses on board to use the plant, with many national customers also keen to see their food waste converted into energy this way.”

Workers have so far built the steel frame for the reception, the state of the art depackaging facility and concrete digestor. They have also laid the foundations for the biogas storage facility.

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Once complete, the company will offer businesses ranging from large industrial food processors to small fish and chips shops, a food waste collection and recycling service.

A company spokeswoman said Prosper De Mulder is already looking at where and when to build the next plants.

The Doncaster facility attracted controversy with residents opposing the development, fearing that it would “severely affect” the quality of their lives and negatively impact house prices.

But town planners approved the project, which is creating 35 new jobs, covering operations, logistics and administration.

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Andrew Smith, chief executive at Prosper De Mulder, said the facility “will firmly put Doncaster on the map as leading the way in generating renewable energy from food waste”.

The £200m-turnover company is owned by the De Mulder family, said to be worth about £130m.