Green Waste Recycling
1,200,000 tonnes
of Green Waste Recycled
Equivalent of 730,000 tonnes
of CO2 Prevented
Over 500,000 tonnes
of Quality Compost created from Waste
Receiving over 75,000 tonnes of organic garden wast a year, compositing is at the heart of Eco, and has been since our inception.
So far, we’ve recycled over 1 million tons of the green waste and produced well over 500,000 tons of high quality, soil improving compost.
Whilst composting is natures very own circular treatment, getting it right isn’t easy. At Eco we utilise the latest monitoring techniques to allow nature to work effectively and break down the garden waste to produce consistent and nutrient rich composts.
Our 12-week process includes shredding, composting, screening, and ongoing software monitoring to ensure that the highest standards of biosecurity and quality compliance are met. The result is a range of compost types which meet not only the regulatory PAS:100 standards but also those of the most discerning horticulturists and agronomists.
We collect green waste from several local authorities as well as from waste disposal companies on a contractual basis. In addition, we also accept green waste from the large network of local landscape gardeners thanks to our competitive disposal rate.
Process Steps:
- Garden offcuts: Through the public taking it to Local Household Waste Recycling Centres, putting it in green bins or local landscapers disposing it directly with us, nearly all of the green waste in Dorset, ends up at Eco.
- Processing: Using electric shredders (which can handle over 50 tonnes per hour) the garden waste is then processed into smaller, more homogeneous particles, before being stacked into huge, long batches (windrows), which are perfect for composting.
- Open Windrow Composting: Once a windrow is formed, it is assigned a unique barcode and monitored daily. By analysing the Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, heat and moisture, we are able to create and maintain the optimum environment which allows the bugs to break down the material to create the perfect compost, whilst meeting all compliance demands.
- Product Preparation: After a 8-12 week composting and maturation period, the material is ready to be processed into its final products. This involves contamination removal, which separates any plastic and foreign objects through air sifting and magnets, before being expertly screened, which size grades the material to produce our range of quality soil improvers and growing media.
Quality Outputs
Composts. With slow-release nutrients, compost provides natural enhancement to soil, as well as an abundance of organic carbon. Through our PAS:100 and Quality Protocol compliant processes, we manufacture a range of organic composts for the horticulture, landscaping, and agricultural industries.
Biomass. 20% of green waste typically ends up as oversize, or the ‘woody’ fraction. Whilst this material is helpful for the composting process, it’s too large for the product. Eco has invested in a sophisticated treatment facility which transforms this material through drying, separation and screening, into a renewable biomass fuel to generate heat and power. This replaces virgin alternatives and turns a waste into resource.