A Ticknall firm has received the go ahead from Derbyshire County Council for the implementation of an innovative waste recycling plant.
The plant, designed to recycle the plastic linings from power station cooling towers will process 15,000 tonnes a year and is said to be "only one of its kind in the world". The recycled plastic would otherwise go to landfill.
The plastic linings are used to increase the efficiency of the cooling towers but after a number of years they become contaminated with silt which impairs their effectiveness. The plant breaks up the plastic and removes the silt and other contaminants to enable the plastic to be sold. The silt is used for restoration works.
The plant, owned by Mr Ben Morley, of Knowle Hill Farm, Ticknall had been in use for a short time at his Uttoxeter Road, Foston site before Planning Approval was granted. Following the formal approval by Derbyshire County Council it is hoped to re-start operations in May after the approval conditions have been met.
Mr Morley's company BM Tech was started in 2005 and offers bespoke industrial design to meet customers specific needs and has designed technology for recycling and water treatment.
In a report in Waste Management World Mr Morley was quoted as saying "We've invested every single penny the company has made since it started in 2005, along with private savings, and I've not paid myself for the past three years."
