Reclaim Resources: Bio-fuel from Landfill

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Reclaim Resources: Bio-fuel from Landfill

Landfill and the disposal of domestic waste are well publicised problems faced by government. Not only do they pose a risk to the environment, but we are simply running out of space. Could Reclaim Resources, a young company based in Kent, have the solution? From a background in air purification and odour control, the company MD, Philip Hall, developed the ‘Vantage Waste Processor’ a technology that processes municipal household waste to produce either bio-ethanol or electricity, a source of valuable clean energy. Company spokesman Nick Boyer talked to us about Reclaim Resource’s unique technology and associated advantages, explaining how the company has got where it is today and where they see themselves going in the near future.

Reclaim resources was founded three years ago by Managing Director Philip Hall and Nick describes him as ‘the driving force behind the company,’ stating, ‘it was Philip and his invention that got it all going’. There are now around 20 people working within the organisation, each bringing their own specialist knowledge.

Philip Hall’s background was in air purification and odour control. He has invented technologies that kill airborne bacteria and remove unpleasant odours from restaurants and other small scale sites. It was following his involvement in a project that required odour removal from a large waste recycling plant that he began working on a full-scale odour removal system and this, ultimately, lead to the development of Reclaim Resource’s ‘Vantage Waste Processor’.

The Vantage Waste Processor is a large cylinder in which household waste is treated; producing biomass from any bio-degradable waste and sanitising recyclable material. Nick explains, “Household waste is shredded using standard technology prior to being fed, on a continuous feed basis, into the Vantage Waste Processor; the rubbish is then processed in the spinning chamber, under steam pressure at 160ºC; ten tonnes of waste can be processed per hour. Once processed anything that is not usable as a bio-fuel can be sorted and recycled”

Nick describes the technology as ‘having three main advantages’. Firstly the volume of waste is reduced by 60% making it much more manageable and uniform. Secondly, as the process sanitises waste there are major improvements in health & safety, especially in countries where rubbish is sorted by hand. Lastly, the processing of biomass opens up the fibres within it, ultimately increasing the energy yield from the fuel that can be generated from the processed biomass.

Obtaining a global Patent for the technology was relatively straight forward, although, as with most Patents, very expensive. Nick attributes the ease in which the Patent was obtained to the fact that it is ‘unique’.

Funding to date has come from a series of private investors and Hall’s own money. Nick does not see a need for any further investment at this moment in time, but does suggest ‘It would be very good for Reclaim Resources if we were to form a partnership with a large company, perhaps an oil or engineering company, that could bring more to the party than just financial clout ’.

‘We are already taking orders and are moving into the market place quite aggressively.

The company has a demonstration site in the South of England but has not yet built a full scale plant. However, contracts are being drawn up and orders are already being processed. In preparation the management are currently constructing a purpose built factory in Eastern Europe where the equipment will be manufactured and shipped out”.

Nick sounded disappointed to say, ‘We have not yet worked with UK Government, ironically we’ve found it much easier to sell abroad. Whereby there are many opportunities in the UK, it would seem that UK authorities move at a slower rate than many other countries, with decisions being made…..sometime in the future”
Having said that, we are keen to work in the UK”

Anybody wanting to know more about Reclaim Resources and their Vantage Waste Processor can meet them at the CleanTech Innovation Forum. One-to-One meetings with both Philip and Nick can be booked using our online meeting service.

Philip will be hosting a session 11.30am and Nick can be found at the Bio-fuel Innovation Showcase within the exhibition.