Food waste recycler PDM is to invest £40m in developing its network of ReFood anaerobic digestion (AD) plants this year, building two new facilities 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 4MWs 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.
PDM’s commercial director Philip Simpson said: “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.”
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.