Background

 Daryl Grace, Biffa’s corporate account manager, explains:”Arla Foods is committed to using advanced process technologies and renewable energies, so I began to investigate what was out there and they were impressed with what they saw. We’ve now been able to give them low-carbon energy generation and closed-loop recycling.”

Biffa recommended the installation of a number of in-plant innovations, including a machine that crushes milk bottles, feeding milk to an anaerobic digestion tank and plastic to a baler. The plastics are collected and recycled by Biffa Polymers’ facility in Redcar. Biffa then supplies the recycled plastic to a milk bottle manufacturer which, in turn, supplies to Arla Foods, delivering a closed-loop system.

Other tools introduced by the Biffa team include a bin lifter constructed from stainless steel to protect it from the corrosion caused by milk acidity, large-scale source separation of milk bottles; and a fully galvanised plastics baler and card/polythene baler.

Biffa’s approach

•  Biffa’s contract managers work to achieve Arla’s specific environmental goals

•  By applying industry-specific knowledge and advanced technology, Biffa has been able to recover maximum value from waste streams, delivering additional benefits to the customer

•  Biffa has introduced circular economy thinking to the Aylesbury plant, securing closed loop recycling initiatives and ultra low carbon renewable energy generation through on-site anaerobic digestion

•  Biffa’s zero waste ambitions are directly aligned to those of Arla Foods, meaning they have shared priorities of addressing the top of the waste hierarchy and delivering closed loop recycling.