Transcript Because AHP Use is Growing - Institute of Environmental

Knowaste in
The United Kingdom
Knowaste
The world’s first provider of a recycling solution
for absorbent hygiene products (AHPs)
Disposable Nappies, Adult Incontinence and Feminine Hygiene Products
Innovative
Cost Effective
Environmentally Friendly
Our Mission
• Divert and recycle disposable absorbent hygiene products
• Create shareholder value by providing consistent annual
growth in revenue and earnings
• Establish partnerships with
organizations that promote
recycling
Why Recycle Nappies, Adult
Incontinence & Feminine
Hygiene Products?
Because We Can!
AHPs do not belong in landfills:
• 500 years to decompose
• Contain human waste
• We can salvage the
valuable raw materials
Because We Should
• In the UK, about 8 million disposable nappies are used every day.
– One baby’s disposable nappies can fill 40 black sacks in a year
– A baby will use 6,000 disposable nappies before being potty trained
(average age 2.5 years)
• Recycling nappies and AHPs helps meet government directives for
landfill diversion
Recycling nappies reduces trash
sent to landfills and therefore
increases diversion rates.
Because AHP Use is Growing
The use of nappies has increased over the last 20 years due to convenience
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93% of parents feel a bit guilty when throwing nappies out in the trash
9 out of 10 parents would segregate nappies for collection
83% of parents would support a fortnightly collection to recycle nappies
84% of parents preferred nappy recycling over incineration
The population in the UK is aging
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People are living longer
Baby boomers are retiring
The fastest growing age group is the over 80 group
At least 50% of nursing home residents in the UK
suffer from incontinence
Sources: Ask-A-Mum Survey, 2008; National Statistics
Online, Age and Ageing 2003, British Geriatrics Society
Because Now we can ALSO Recycle
Feminine Hygiene Products.
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In the UK about 18 million women use sanitary protection products which
generate over 200,000 tonnes/year of waste going to landfill
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Through the Knowaste process, this waste stream can be recycled and
therefore diverted from landfill
“Sanitary waste is a controlled
waste and must be disposed of
under strict legislation”
Workplace Health Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992
Source: Feminine Hygiene & Sanitary Protection Products, UK – July 2009, Mintel International Group Ltd
The Knowaste solution will allow the
UK to put into practice a new
approach that focuses on results and
measurable improvements.
AHP Pick-up
AHP
Generation
Recycled Products:
Green Energy
& Plastic
AHP
Sterilisation &
Processing
Pulp
20 to 25%
SAP
5 to 7%
Waste
3 to 5%
Plastic
12 to 15%
Water
50%
Captured and recycled
back into the system
The Knowaste
process separates
the components.
Plastic
Green Energy
100% of components can be either diverted or reclaimed
or converted to energy with the Knowaste process.
Our technology is patent-protected in all World Trade
Organization Countries
Research and development have
resulted in yearly patent applications
being filed.
Plant Design
Pulp
Recovery
Plastic
Recovery
Determined by
local and global
economics
Green
Energy
Optimum Plant Size
In the UK:
36,000 tonnes
Organic Residue
• Green Energy
– Utilising the latest gasification technology
– Steam turbine will generate power to operate entire facility and
sell to the grid
– Residual heat will be used to dry the recycled plastic
• Mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene
• New technology will increase the quality of the plastic to
ensure highest market pricing
Benefit: More Knowaste recovered material
can be used in value added end products!
SmallPlanet Building
Products Ltd.
• Sustainable Building Products for Our Small Planet
• Manufactures exclusive roofing tiles and accessories
using Knowaste recycled materials
– Created using a composite base covered with a
natural stone granulate for the finish
– Weather resistant, non-corrosive, maintenance
free and durable
Revenues
Costs
Utilities
Gate fees
Processing
Overhead
Plastic
Water
Green
Energy
Sewer
Labour
Chemicals
Profit
The UK has the highest level of landfill in Europe
 Each year, every person in the UK generates
 441 kilograms of domestic waste
 840 kilograms of commercial waste
 80% of municipal waste produced goes to landfill
 Approximately 1million tonnes of AHPs such as nappies, adult incontinence and
feminine hygiene products are produced per annum
Source: Department of Environment, Transportation and Regions (DETR)
The First Plant
West Bromwich
will process 36,000 tonnes/year
– Will yield both plastic and organic residue
– Approximately 3,600 tonnes of mixed low density polyethylene and
polypropylene plastic per annum will be recycled
– The organic residue will be used in the facility to create green energy
– Used to power the plant
– Sold to the Grid
Additional Plants to be built
throughout the UK
1 Plant will – Divert 36,000 tonnes of nappies from landfill:
– Saves 130,464 cubic metres of landfill space
– Reduces landfill gases
– Diverts untreated human waste from landfill
1 Plant will - Save Valuable Resources:
– Reclaimed plastic saves 4 million litres of oil
– Reused fibre saves 122,400 trees
– Enough natural gas is saved to heat 1,423 homes for a year
1 Plant will - Create Useful Products:
– Green energy
– Recycle natural resources that can be used in
the production of plastic wood, roof tiles and
vinyl wood sidings
(5 million cubic metres)
• Knowaste was named by The Times:
“One of the Top 20 Most Innovative Companies in the UK”
• EU Life Award
– Rewards projects that play an important role in developing solutions to specific
technological challenges. Presented to Knowaste for:
• Better waste treatment and management
• Better way of using resources
• The Fraunhofer Institute
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Conducted an independent environmental study that compared all types of waste disposal and
ranked Knowaste as the most environmentally solution overall.
• The Knowaste LCA is currently being evaluated by
an independent British company