Historic Refuse Derived Fuel shipment leaves Scotland for Europe
Published by Anne Marie Hughes on Sat 09 Jun 12 @ 22:16
Dow Waste Management is run by brother-and sister team Sheila and Marshall Dow.
In an historic first for Scotland, a shipment of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) is set to leave Grangemouth this week, marking a significant push towards fulfilling the Scottish Government's Zero Waste Plan. The Zero Waste Plan of 360,000 tonnes less waste going to landfill is a target all Scots have responsibility for.
Dow Waste Management, a £4.8 family-run recycling and waste management operator based in Cumbernauld, is the only company in Scotland creating RDF from excess waste that cannot be sold and would be sent to landfill. This is now being carefully wrapped into structured bales to be shipped to Europe as an essential fuel supply for power stations.
The company's £1.5m RDF investment programme means Dow Waste Management is working towards its landfill diversion target, in line with the Scottish Government's plan for recovery targets.
The first RDF shipment will leave from Forth Ports CarronDock in Grangemouth and Dow Waste Management managing director Sheila Dow said: "As a company, we have invested considerable time developing direct relationships and contracts with utility companies across Europe who are well placed to receive this form of fuel supply direct to their power stations.
"We are very happy to put this programme in place as part of our on-going sustainability efforts and playing our part in reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill in Scotland, as well as offering our customers a real alternative to landfill."
Dow recycles domestic and commercial waste, with 85% of its business coming from the private sector and 15% from the public sector, primarily local authorities in the central belt.
The company has invested in state-of-the-art equipment torecover, recycle and to produce a range of sustainable fuels for the production of green heat energy and renewable electricity.
Dow Waste Management, run by brother-and sister team Sheila and Marshall Dow, recently transformed its business operations in response to the developing market place. Dow has grown from its roots as a wholesale fruit and vegetable merchant since 1969, to the family diversifying into waste management in its current position at the cutting edge of the waste industry.
