PDM to establish UK anaerobic digestion network
19 Apr 2012
Doncaster, UK – SARIA Bio-Industries has acquired a majority stake in Doncaster-based food-waste recycler PDM Group, which is seeking to establish a network of anaerobic digestion facilities in the UK.
Selm, Germany-based SARIA is one of Europe’s leading producers of high quality proteins and fats from animal by-products. It has worked in partnership with PDM for a number of years.
With SARIA’s investment, PDM said it would fast-track its plans to create a national network of ReFood plants for processing food waste.
Having recently opened its first AD plant in Doncaster, PDM has decided to is invest a further £40 million to develop its ReFood network of AD plants. This will result in two new plants located in Widnes and east London.
The new plants will each double the recycling capacity of Doncaster, each handling around 90,000 tonnes of food waste each year and producing 4MWhs of renewable energy.
Subject to planning, the facility in Widnes will be built on PDM’s existing site, creating a food waste recycling hub that incorporates rendering, biomass to energy and AD, the company said.
Taking food waste generated by retailers, restaurants, hotels and householders, the plant will provide renewable energy to the national grid and create a nutrient rich fertiliser for use in growing new crops.
“Our AD plant in Doncaster is performing well, and we’re keen to keep the momentum going in developing our ReFood network to provide regional solutions for food waste across the UK,” said Philip Simpson, commercial director at PDM.
PDM said it will incorporate the next generation of recycling and recovery technology being developed in Europe to ensure that its plants are industry-leading in terms of efficiency to convert the highest yields of energy and nutrient rich fertiliser.
Each new plant will also generate approximately 40 new jobs in sales, logistics and operations. PDM aims to commence construction on both sites by Autumn 2012, with both plants fully operational in 2013.
PDM Group (Prosper De Mulder Ltd.) claims to be the UK’s largest food chain by-product recycler. The group has an annual sales of over £200 million and employs over 1,000 people at 23 sites across the UK.
