March 31st 2008

Several members went to Severn Waste Services at Lower Moor for a tour of the recycling and composting areas. The purple & white plastic bags are brought into the Materials Reclamation Facility and unloaded. A machine breaks open the bags and then conveyors carry the waste to be sorted by hand. Clothing from white bags is sorted to recover wearable items, which are then sent to third world countries. The rest is sold on for rags. The purple & white bags are recovered and baled. Bales of aluminium cans can be seen in the sixth picture, and plastic milk bottles in the last.

We then went to the land fill site - although it is more aptly named 'land raise' site. Contrary to what we thought, there isn't a large hole in the ground, the non-recycled waste is actually creating new land. New areas are lined with about one metre of clay with a surrounding clay wall before filling commences. Birds are kept away by the use of Falcons and we met one of them.

Garden waste is emptied out and a giant shredder works its way along the row. The material is piled in windrows, and turned regularly until it has composted. It is then sieved to remove any large bits of wood, and plastic bags. Severn Waste Services sell the compost/soil conditioner as GreenGrow, in bags or in bulk. While we were there a car and trailer came and was loaded with steaming GreenGrow. A trailer load for £3!

A very interesting tour, and our thanks to Severn Waste Services. Any group can arrange for a tour, between five and seven are the best size group.