FDBusiness.com

PDM Group (Prosper De Mullder), the UK’s largest food chain by-product recycler, is to invest a further £40 million in developing its network of ReFood anaerobic digestion plants this year. This investment will result in two new plants located in Widnes and East London.

The announcement follows the completion of the company’s first AD plant at its headquarters in Doncaster. The two new plants will each double the recycling capacity of Doncaster, each handling around 90,000 tonnes of food waste each year and producing 4MWhs of renewable energy.

Subject to planning, the facility in Widnes will be built on PDM’s existing site, creating a food waste recycling hub that incorporates rendering, biomass to energy and AD. Taking food waste generated by retailers, restaurants, hotels and householders, the plant will provide renewable energy to the national grid and create a nutrient rich fertiliser for use in growing new crops.

Philip Simpson, commercial director at PDM, comments: “Food waste is recognised as an issue the UK needs to overcome, not only is it a complete waste of a resource by letting it rot in landfill, capacity at these sites is falling fast and AD offers the ideal solution. Our AD plant in Doncaster is performing well, and we’re keen to keep the momentum going in developing our ReFood network to provide regional solutions for food waste across the UK.”

PDM will incorporate the next generation of recycling and recovery technology being developed in Europe to ensure that its plants are industry-leading in terms of efficiency to convert the highest yields of energy and nutrient rich fertiliser. Each new plant will also generate approximately 40 new jobs in sales, logistics and operations. PDM aims to commence construction on both sites by Autumn 2012, with both plants fully operational in 2013.

PDM Group has an annual turnover of £200 million and employs over 1,000 people at 23 sites across the UK. It is owned by SARIA Bio-Industries and members of the founder’s family.