March 22nd 2010

"Waste Handling-A waste Recycling Plant claiming 100%                                            capability"

                               given by Philip Hall
                         MD, Reclaim Resources Ltd

Reclaim Resources state that their technique is the most advanced and economical waste processing system available today. Phil Hall described the various processes in his system, though as some steps are the subject of patents details here were omitted. The raw input is "black bag" rubbish. This goes through a rotating 2m diameter stainless steel tube where it is treated with high pressure steam. There is also a sterilisation and "de-smelling" process. After this any plastic and metal waste is removed.

The residual biomass is used as a feedstock for an ethanol plant. This is shown schematically in the bottom half of the plant diagram below.This can be used as a fuel, or with further refinement used to power jet turbine generating sets; a typical turbine unit is shown in the bottom left hand diagram. After initial start up the plant runs continuously.

We were given detail costings for a plant - this was from 36 to 42 million pounds depending upon the configuration. As yet there is no working system anywhere, but apparently there have been a significant number of inquiries from abroad, though non in the U.K. as yet. The interest of members in Phil Hill's talk was indicated by the quality of the questions from the audience and also by the fact that after the meeting closed, several groups of members remained behind discussing it.

Details of the Reclaim Resources system are to be found on their website

The meeting finished with a lively question and answer session. Several members were concerned with what would happen if a significant amount of toxic material got into the system and if it did what would be the costs involved in shutting down and restarting it. Phil Hallinformed the audience that the stop start cycle of a complete plant was about 3 days. The speaker was thanked by our Vice-President, Dick Abbott, who asked the audience to join with him in showing their appreciation to Phil in the normal manner.

We would like to thank Reclaim Resources for the use of their diagrams in this report.

Tony Meacock                      March 2010