Whilst most local authorities seem to baulk at the idea of pyrolysis, Calderdale District Council in the UK has taken a different view of the technology, albeit for a waste other than tyres
In a proposed pyrolysis project to deal with organic waste, Calderdale councillors heard in a presentation from a potential partner in a scheme, representatives from Shropshire County Council – which has already introduced the process, – and Calderdale’s own officers.
The council want the public to be fully informed about the project when the plans come before senior councillors before the end of the year.
Scrutiny councillors, who have already considered the issue in a lengthy session, recommend clear messaging to the public including a “one page” type document to allay fears which might arise.
This suggest that the Council is in favour of the project and is doing what so many pyrolysis projects have failed to do, and is running an information campaign to make it absolutely clear what is involved in the project.
They will make it crystal clear that the process is not incineration and it would not be an incinerator, nor would potentially noxious materials be used in the plant, they said.
Atlas Mill at Brighouse is the centre identified as the likeliest site, and a detailed crunching of the numbers will go before cabinet councillors in a full business case as the council will have to borrow to fund the plant.
Reports in the Halifax Courier state; “The plan could reduce the annual £240,000 cost of disposing of the borough’s green waste and produce saleable commodities, among the financial benefits, the councillors heard.”
The Atlas Mill site is operated by Suez, who have an MoU with Pyrum to build six pyrolysis plants in the UK – though it is not clear if this plant would utilise Pyrum technology
The Council is considering whether to run this as a stand alone plant, or to operate it in partnership with the technology company.
In a refreshing understanding of how the public react to the term pyrolysis, Place Scrutiny Board chair Coun Abigail White (Lib Dem, Warley) said messaging would be important as people googling “pyrolysis” would come across items which have been put through some plants including tyres, electronics and plastics.
Whilst tyres and plastics are not part of the Calderdale plan, the mere fact that a large urban council is taking steps towards utilising pyrolysis technology in a built-up area is a positive message for the sector.
The more the public see positive results from pyrolysis of any shape, the less likely they are to mount campaigns against future projects.
In other news, North Norfolk District Council has approved plans for a “temporary” plastics pyrolysis plant. The restrictions are very tight, but a positive outcome of the short test process could lead to something more substantial further down the line.
