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On track to zero-carbon
16 January 2015
With help from Biffa's waste innovations, Arla Foods' Aylesbury is on its way to becoming a zero-carbon milk processing facility
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.
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